Digital paper supplier E Ink Holdings has received the International Dark-Sky Association's certification for its products, the world's first display technology to win the honor, the company said.

As a reflective technology, the company's e-papers do not emit any light, but rely on ambient lighting for displaying screen images. For night viewing, a small LED strip can illuminate its displays without stray light that wastes energy and disrupts the neighborhood, the company said in a press release.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2021 became the first big city to introduce a dark-sky ordinance, while many small cities, rural towns, and natural areas have registered their commitments to reduce light pollution with the association. As of 2016, at least 17 states in the US, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico, have regulations in place to curb light pollution, according to US National Conference of State Legislatures.

The company's e-paper technology helps prevent air pollution and save energy, and its applications can be found in thousands of transit and public areas across the world, E Ink CEO Johnson Lee said.

Winning the association's certification shows the company is taking action to realize its ESG sustainability commitments, and the company will continue to launch low-carbon products beneficial for the environment, he said.

Its e-paper products are energy-efficient as they do not consume energy when showing a fixed image, but only need energy when changing images, the company said. When designing terminal products, the company can incorporate solar or renewable energy systems to power the products, which helps save energy and create a sustainable, smart city, it said.

Note: The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is committed to protecting the night sky from light pollution. It has a program to recognize and promote excellent stewardship of dark-sky places, including dark-sky communities, parks, reserves, and other areas.

By DIGITIMES