Samsung is building displays from plankton now

Do you remember the 32-inch Color E-Paper display Samsung introduced last year? The one that would’ve made an incredible digital picture frame or wall art, if it weren’t locked behind enterprise-only availability? Well, Samsung now has a smaller 13-inch model, and it’s quietly setting a new manufacturing benchmark.

Once again, though, there’s a catch. The 13-inch EM13DX Color E-Paper is strictly an enterprise product, meaning you can’t buy one unless it’s going on a company budget. Still, this display is notable for a very different reason. It’s breaking new ground in how electronics are made.

Commercial production of resin derived from phytoplankton is a relatively new technology, one that could eventually replace petroleum-based plastics with a far more sustainable alternative. Only now, at the start of 2026, is this material beginning to appear in real-world electronics.

Samsung says its new 13-inch Color E-Paper is the world’s first display to use bio-resin derived from phytoplankton. The material is used for the display’s housing and has been independently verified by UL, the global safety and sustainability certification body.

According to UL, the housing is made from 45% recycled plastic and 10% phytoplankton-based bio-resin. Samsung says the new resin can cut carbon emissions during manufacturing by more than 40%.

Image Credit: Samsung

Being first doesn’t mean being last. Samsung could expand the use of this material to other display products over time, including consumer devices. It’s early days, but the manufacturing process already looks promising.

As for the display itself, the 13-inch Color E-Paper is just as impressive as its larger sibling. It can show static color images at zero watts of power, while Samsung’s color image algorithm improves accuracy and readability.