Sassy and sustainable, Smeg’s 50’s Retro Refrigerator is a top choice for an eco-kitchen. Here’s why.
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Smeg 24-Inch 50s Style Refrigerator
Highlights: Cute, stylish, and sustainable! Boasts three adjustable (and removable) glass shelves in the main compartment. Very quiet, with a noise level of just 42dBA. Award-winning company focusing on environmentally-friendly design and manufacturing.
- Looks great!
- Available in 10 colors
- Energy Star rated
- Very quiet
- Uses eco-friendlier coolant
- Designed with smart materials that are easy to replace and recycle
- Made by a more sustainable company
- Smaller freezer space than similar sized models
- No WiFi, ice maker, or water dispenser
- Not ADA compliant
At a glance:
Made in: Italy
Capacity: 9.92 cu. ft. total (0.92 for freezer)
Annual energy use: 305 kWh/year (though some sources say just 250 kWh/yr)
Energy Star: Yes
Climatic Class: T
Measurements: (h x w x d) 57½” x 23⅝” x 27½”
Noise level: 42 dB(A) RE 1pW
Coolant: r600a
Certifications: UNI EN ISO 9001, UNI EN ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, EU directives RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemical Substances)
What we like
Available in 10 different color tones from a subtle cream to a vibrant orange, Smeg’s 24-inch 50’s Retro Style refrigerators may look stylishly old-fashioned, but they are incredibly energy efficient. Providing 9.22 cu. ft. of storage, the Smeg refrigerator is easy to use, easy to clean, and uses just 250-305 kWh/yr, depending on who’s testing it.
The Smeg retro refrigerator is unfussy, chic, and performs well. It’s also very quiet, like the Liebherr (View Price on Amazon), with a noise level of just 42dBA.
With no fancy bangs and whistles, this refrigerator is easier to clean, repair, maintain, and recycle than more complicated appliances with WiFi and so forth.
The Smeg retro refrigerator is also made by a super sustainable company, uses eco-friendlier coolant, and is designed for easier recycling when it comes to end of life.
What’s inside
Smeg’s 24-inch refrigerator includes:
- Small icebox
- Interior LED light
- 1 bottle rack
- 1 fixed glass shelf
- 1 fruit and vegetable container
- 1 dairy box
- 2 adjustable covered bins in the door
- 2 bottle storage bins
- 4 adjustable bins
- 2 egg bins.
Sustainability
Smeg is an Italian company that strongly adheres to and aims to exceed European safety standards for eco-friendly manufacturing practices. The company’s headquarters has won awards for its environmentally-friendly design and policies, which include not building on more than 30-33% of the site, so as to foster habitat conservation (the company also planted more than 4,000 plants).
In addition, Smeg is very selective in all the components and materials that go into its products, choosing steel, glass, aluminum and brass, where possible, as these can be easily recycled.
Smeg also fully complies with the EU directives RoHS and REACH, which lay out strict restrictions on the use of hazardous materials and substances such as:
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Mercury
- Chromium VI
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
These regulations also govern the handling of chemical substances to ensure that human health and the environment are protected to the fullest extent.
Smeg goes a step further than most refrigerator makers by choosing eco-compatible suppliers and using recyclable packaging. It also makes an effort to improve the environmental footprint of its transport/haulage and has a robust policy in place to reduce:
- Water consumption
- Emissions
- Electricity use
- Packaging materials
- Overall waste.
On top of all these great steps, Smeg produces kitchen appliances with high performance and low energy consumption top of mind.
Vs. the competition
The classic Smeg refrigerator lacks a few of the more modern touches of the Bosch, Liebherr, and Blomberg brands, but it really shines in terms of overall safety, sustainability, and environmental policies.
All in all, if the idea of a stylish looking refrigerator you’ll likely hang onto for years trumps WiFi capability and other snazzy features you’re unlikely to use, chances are you’ll be happy with a Smeg Retro Refrigerator.
Smeg 24-Inch 50s Style Refrigerator
Highlights: Cute, stylish, and sustainable! Boasts three adjustable (and removable) glass shelves in the main compartment. Very quiet, with a noise level of just 42dBA. Award-winning company focusing on environmentally-friendly design and manufacturing.
What kind of refrigerant is used in this refrigerator? That is a very important detail that should be in all the descriptions when one first looks at the item. I can’t find it anywhere in the description.
Hi Bobbie,
Thanks for the comment. You’re right that we should have made it easier to see that all the refrigerators we recommend use the more eco-friendly R600a coolant (I believe Smeg only use this type of coolant). I’ve gone back through all the reviews on the site and added the coolant to the quick checklist at the top for convenience.
Hope this helps!
Leigh