Katarzyna Petru
In the RTV industry, there’s a race not only for the largest screens and ever-better image technologies but also to create equipment that is more environmentally friendly. And it seems that TCL has just outpaced the competition.
The Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a completely new, eco-friendly material called TCL ECORA – made from a blend of recycled plastics and ceramic waste. It is intended to replace traditional plastic in devices such as televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators.
Ceramics Instead of Plastic
TCL ECORA was first showcased to the world at the IFA 2025 in Berlin, but only now have we learned the details. The material is set to be used in components such as the back panels of televisions and offers a range of benefits – it is harder, more durable and provides a more “premium” look and texture.
The first device made from the new material will be the TCL NXTVISION TV, inspired by art and designed to look like a painting in a frame. The screen features a matte, anti-reflective coating, and the whole unit can be mounted almost flush against the wall, just like a true piece of art. Furthermore, the entire back panel of this model is made from ECORA, which significantly reduces the amount of plastic used.
The manufacturer also emphasises that products made from ECORA can be manufactured using 3D printing, which further decreases the environmental impact.
Porcelain Roots of the Project
To create the new material, TCL uses ceramic waste from the city of Jingdezhen – renowned for porcelain for over 1700 years. The ceramics from this region are considered some of the best in the world.
The waste is ground into a fine powder, which is then mixed with a small amount of plastic, resulting in a durable and smooth composite ideal for consumer electronics.
In the development of ECORA, Chris Lefteri, the founder of Chris Lefteri Design, specializing in sustainable design, was involved. As he says:
“Cool, smooth, and stone-like to the touch – this material redefines how home appliances can look and behave. We’re upcycling waste that would normally end up in a landfill.”
Green offensive by TCL
The ECORA project was created as part of the TCLGreen initiative, focused on increasing the sustainability of the company's entire operations. Previous actions by this organisation have resulted in, among other things, a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 1.78 million tonnes in 2024, the introduction of clean energy sources, and emission monitoring systems.
However, this is just the beginning. TCL has announced that in the future it will replace plastic with ECORA material in many other products, and is already working on further ideas. One of these is a remote control made from recycled tea leaves – an idea as surprising as it is brilliant.
Premiere in Milan and Las Vegas
New products from ECORA will be on display and available to touch from 6 December to 6 January at Piazza del Duomo in Milan, during an event related to the sponsorship of the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Further premieres have been scheduled by TCL for CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where we will see the full line of devices made with the new material.
TCL ECORA is not just a material curiosity, but a real step towards more sustainable electronics. If the manufacturer's promises are confirmed, we could witness a new era of RTV design – more durable, more beautiful, and less plastic.
