Samsung Semiconductor’s products have obtained the
“Carbon Footprint” certification, which is issued by
Carbon Trust of the U.K through the comprehensive
measuring of the environmental impact of carbon
generation throughout a product’s lifecycle, from
extracting and transporting the raw material to making
and using the product.
Since our achievement of the “Carbon Footprint”
certification as the first in the semiconductor industry
in 2019, the scope of certification has been expanded to
not only key memory products, but also system
semiconductors. As of 2021, a total of 24 products, such
as 20 memory semiconductors and four system
semiconductor products, have obtained the “Carbon
Footprint” certification.
We also won the “Carbon Reduction Certification,” which
is issued when the amount of carbon generated by a
follow-up model of a “Carbon Footprint” certified
product is lower than the existing product, as the first
in the industry. In 2021, the “Carbon Reduction
Certification” was awarded to five of DRAM, SSD, and UFS
memory card products, following one UFS product in
2020.
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From the purchase of raw materials to development,
manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. Samsung
Semiconductor strictly abides by the related
environmental regulations by considering environmental
impact caused by products throughout the process from
product design to disposal.
While complying with RoHS, which are the rules of the EU
and China on the restriction of hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic equipment, and REACH, the EU
regulation for registration, evaluation, authorization
and restriction of chemicals, we are fulfilling our duty
of sufficiently providing information to consumers for
safe use of products according to the REACH
regulation.
In accordance with the IEC definition (IEC 61249-2-21),
Samsung Semiconductor complies with the halogen-free
requirements.
In addition to products, we intensively manage air and
water pollutants in order to prevent pollution in areas
around our plants, and also to eliminate the risk of
environmental pollution and regulatory violations caused
by pollutant discharge.
Keeping the concentration of discharges at a
considerably lower level than the legal standard, we
have also established a triple interlock system to
enable emergency collection of pollutants upon
discharge.
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Samsung Electronics announced its new environmental
strategy in September 2022, confirming its commitment to
achieving net zero carbon emissions (Scope 1 & Scope 2)
by 2050.
Samsung Electronics has joined RE100, a global
initiative dedicated to pursuing 100% renewable energy
to reduce indirect carbon emissions (Scope 2) from power
consumption. The plan is to replace all electric power
needs with renewable energy by 2050.
* Scope 1: Carbon emitted from the production process
and the fuel use at plants
Scope 2: Carbon emitted from energy
creation such as the use of electric power and steam at
plants
Our overseas semiconductor plants have already been
powered by 100% renewable energy since 2019. As for
domestic plants, we have developed and promoted
implementation plans optimized for each region by
installing solar power generation facilities, purchasing
renewable energy certificates, and adopting renewable
power rates
in order to increase renewable energy use.
For semiconductors, the electric power use increases as
the production lines expand. In particular, in Korea
where Samsung Semiconductor core plants are located,
achieving our goal comes with realistic difficulties due
to the challenging conditions of the renewable energy
provision.
Despite such difficulties and uncertainties, Samsung
Electronics is striving to expand the use of renewable
energy in domestic plants by keeping pace with the
Korean government’s strategy to increase renewable
energy use while maintaining 100% renewable energy use
in overseas plants.
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Samsung Electronics announced its new environmental
strategy in September 2022, confirming its commitment to
achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
To reduce direct carbon emissions (Scope 1) from plants,
Samsung Electronics plans to invest heavily in
innovative technologies for carbon reduction treatment
facilities.
* Scope 1: Carbon emitted from the production process
and the fuel use at plants
Scope 2: Carbon emitted from energy
creation such as the use of electric power and steam at
plants
Currently, direct carbon emissions at Samsung
Semiconductor are mainly from the use of fuel such as
process gas and LNG throughout the manufacturing
processes.
And as an attempt to reduce process gas from the
manufacturing processes, we have tried to reduce the
direct emissions by decreasing the amount of process gas
use, operating an integrated greenhouse gas treatment
facility, Regenerative Catalytic System (RCS), and
developing alternative gas with a low global warming
potential.
We plan to develop new technologies to significantly
improve the treatment of process gas and expand
treatment facilities to its semiconductor manufacturing
lines by 2030. Samsung Electronics will continue to
expand waste heat utilization and consider introducing
electric heat sources to reduce LNG boiler usage as part
of active efforts to tackle climate change.
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For the requirements of IEEE Std 1680.1a-2020 Section 4.1.10.2, Samsung Electronics DS Division emitted 5,291 thousand metric tons CO2e of F-GHG in 2023, based on the criteria of the US Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).
(* Using 2019 IPCC Tier 2b methodology, IPCC AR5)
Samsung Semiconductor is making various efforts for
switching to circular economy by recycling wastes
generated at the plants to resources.
- Extracting copper from copper sludge, the byproduct of
process water purification
- Finely shredding EMC, the semiconductor sealing
material, and using it as new plastic material
- Extracting gold, tungsten, and other metals from dust
absorbed from production line (CV dust)
All Samsung Semiconductor plants won the Zero Waste to
Landfill certification from UL (Underwriters
Laboratories), a global safety certification agency, for
their performance to achieve waste-to-resource
circulation rate of 97% and higher. We also obtained the
Triple Standard certification from Carbon Trust, a
global certification agency.
* Triple Standard Certification: Certification issued to
business establishments that reduced carbon and waste
generation, and decreased the amount of water
consumption
In particular, the five plants in Hwaseong, Giheung,
Pyeongtaek, Xian, and Suzhou obtained the Zero Waste to
Landfill Platinum Grade by achieving resource
circulation rate of 100%. In addition, with the
eight-inch wafer box and IC tray recognized as
resources, no longer wastes, we, as the first in Korea’s
electrical and electronics industry, obtained the
Ministry of Environment’s “Circular Resource Quality
Mark,” and thus are contributing to the switch to
circular economy.
Samsung Semiconductor aims to obtain the Zero Waste to
Landfill Platinum Grade for all plants by 2024.
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Samsung Semiconductor has established internal
regulations that are far stricter than the legal
standards for the concentration of pollutants, water
temperature, ecological toxicity, etc. in order to
minimize negative impacts of pollutants discharged from
all plants on the aquatic ecosystem.
While periodically monitoring for any negative impact
the discharged water has on the ecosystem, we measure
water quality indicators of the rivers to which water is
discharged, such as chemical oxygen demand (COD),
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and acidity (pH), on a
regular basis to control the ecological impacts. In
addition, based on surveys of fish and birds, and
monitoring on their habitats, we make various efforts to
reduce the impact on the ecosystem.
Samsung Semiconductor plants also reduce pollutant
discharge and prepare for possible environmental
accidents in wastewater treatment plants by establishing
a multiple defense system against water pollution. A
“triple interlock” has been installed in the lead-in,
processing, and discharge stages of the wastewater
treatment plants. Under the multiple defense system,
each interlock measures water pollutants in real-time,
and if the concentration exceeds the standard or
pollutant leakage occurs, an emergency pollutant
collection process is started.
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We make efforts to protect valuable water resources by
minimizing water consumption, and recycling and reusing
wastewater.
As of 2021, we achieved a 34% recycling rate, and in
domestic plants, 160,000 tons of water is reused daily.
We will continue managing water resources by changing
the process control values, switching waste treatment
methods, and optimizing process operation.
In 2020, Samsung Semiconductor, as the first in global
semiconductor industry, won recognition for reducing
water consumption from Carbon Trust, a global
certification agency, and in 2021, we were awarded the
Triple Standard certification.
* Triple Standard Certification: Certification issued to
business establishments that reduced carbon and waste
generation, and decreased the amount of water
consumption
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more ↗
Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child, and ILO Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Samsung
Electronics has established human rights policy for all
employees and partners.
※ Details
of labor and human rights policies can be found on
the Samsung website.
Samsung Electronics listens to employees’ complaints through Organizational Culture SOS, Compliance channel, and the employees’ representative body. For the complaints and reports, anonymity is strictly guaranteed.
When recruiting new employees fresh out of college and
high school, rather than experienced employees with
distinctive fields of expertise, the applicants’
educational background, age, place of birth, and gender,
etc. are not disclosed to the assessors.
In addition, education is provided to and a pledge is
collected from the assessors to not ask applicants about
their personal information including physical conditions
and family information that is not relevant to their job
competencies and abilities. We are committed to
preventing discrimination through regular education.
All manufacturing plants of DS Division have obtained and annually renew the ISO 45001 certification, global safety, and health management system standard, and are fully meeting customers’ safety and health-related requirements.
Samsung Electronics is designing safe worksites,
establishing operating procedures, providing personal
protective equipment, and providing safety education,
etc. according to the “Working Environment Management
Guidance” to prevent workers from being exposed to
potential risk factors, such as electric shock, fire,
and fall.
In addition, we have established a set of procedures to
identify, conduct detailed assessment on, and respond to
emergency situations and accidents including fire, bad
weather, and chemical leaks according to the
Infrastructure and Environmental Safety Risk Response
Manual. We are also holding regular map exercises to
verify effectiveness of accident response system in
preparation for various accidents and emergency
situations by type.
In particular, pre-operation safety education has been
designated as compulsory education and is provided in
the form of TBM (Tool Box Meeting).
When recognizing a risk, workers have the right to prevent accidents by stopping the operation immediately. This applies also to the employees of partners.
We conduct risk assessment on all processes and operations on a regular basis. We also dedicate the utmost effort to safety management by installing safety devices on all facilities including interlocks and protective fences.
To prevent occupational injuries and diseases of
workers, we regularly provide education on safety and
health, and also operate the Musculoskeletal Disease
Prevention Center, and an in-house clinic. In addition,
we operate the standards for protective equipment use
according to the locations and operation types, and the
SOP reflecting the standards. At the same time, we
provide education to workers about the use of protective
equipment to promote their compliance with the criteria
before entering locations where protective equipment use
is required.
For safe management of chemicals and accident
prevention, we provide education to workers handling
chemicals, and periodically inspect the facilities where
chemicals are stored and used.
In case an injury or a disease occurs, a series of
procedures, such as report, tracking, and management,
are thoroughly implemented according to the
environmental safety workplace system under the internal
accident handling regulations. Also, the types and
history of accidents are recorded.
When an affected employee returns to work, necessary
actions are taken following close examination about the
necessity of additional treatment, etc. through an
interview with an occupational health specialist.
For workers’ health management, we provide regular health checkup service each year. For people suspected of hypertension, diabetes, and other diseases according to the examination results, we also provide 1:1 consulting with specialists and health improvement programs to support in their disease prevention and health improvement. In addition, for workers handling chemicals, we provide “special health check-up” service according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Under the CSR vision of “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” Samsung Electronics focuses on educational support to teenagers. We also perform a range of activities to promote shared growth in order to solve social issues and contribute to local communities.
Samsung Electronics operates a number of educational
programs for teenagers in order to foster future talents
that will lead creative, inclusive, and sustainable
society through education and technological
development.
※ Program
details can be found on the website.
To support the vulnerable class in local communities,
such as the low income earners and people with
disabilities (visual impairment, transport vulnerable,
etc.), we perform various volunteer activities through
participation by all employees.
Despite limitations in volunteer works due to COVID-19
as of late, we have continued performing social
contribution activities in contactless ways.
We match employees’ donations for social contribution. In addition, we support employees to autonomously propose ideas for social contribution programs and participate in the projects. We also perform other supporting activities, such as to install donation kiosks and organize regular charity events.
This is a system through which Samsung Electronics
raises a fund with Industrial Bank of Korea, Korea
Development Bank, and Woori Bank, and provides loan
service with interest exemption or reduction to the
primary, secondary, and tertiary partners that require
funding support for facility investment, R&D, and
operating cost. Partners that wish to receive the
support can submit applications for Shared Growth Fund
by visiting the banks (Industrial Bank of Korea, Korea
Development Bank, Woori Bank) in person. The support is
decided after the applicants are checked for their
transactions with Samsung Electronics and credit
ratings.
The support period is up to three years. Partners that
require additional support can reapply for the program.
As the period of review for reapplication is the same as
that for a new application, it is recommended to submit
a reapplication before the three-year support period
expires.
Since 2010, we have been paying incentives to the
employees of partners in the first and second half of
each year in order to encourage the development of a
safety management culture, motivate partners for
improving Samsung Electronics’ productivity, and promote
their collaboration and development for shared
growth.
The incentives are paid differentially to small and
medium-scale partners that have made direct
contributions to Samsung Electronics’ production through
environmental safety and productivity improvement
assessment. This is a program operated with a goal to
promote shared growth with partners, and the scope of
incentive payment is expanding each year.
(KRW 74.07 billion in 2019 → KRW 77.72 billion in 2020 →
KRW 89.28 billion in 2021)
The incentive system has led to the establishment of an
accident prevention culture within partners to receive
the incentive benefits, and also continuous reduction in
the number of environmental accidents. (Number of
Accidents per 10,000 Persons: 19 in 2017 → 4.4 in
2021)
In addition, as the incentive payment increased
satisfaction of partners’ employees, their turnover rate
has decreased, contributing to talent fostering in
partners.
We provide approximately 500 job training and education courses ranging from education for new employees of partners to education on content necessary in the field, such as about leadership, quality, ICT convergence, semiconductor technology, value innovation, purchase and sales, and environmental safety. Education programs for the following month are posted on the Partners Education Center website (www.partnerseducenter.com), and registrations are received between the 1st and 15th of each month. All educational programs are provided for free.
We provide consulting support to small and medium-scale
partners in Korea in relation to various fields
including development, manufacturing, quality,
environmental safety, purchase, and marketing. The
consulting period is approximately four to six months.
During this period, professional consultants of Samsung
Electronics provide consulting service by visiting
partners in person once or twice a week.
Applications for consulting service are received through
an invitation notice posted once each in the first and
second half of the year.
Following consultant allocation and pre-interview with
partners, the support targets are selected. The
consulting program is provided for free as part of our
effort to promote collaboration for shared growth aimed
at supporting competitiveness building of our strategic
partners. Details of the consulting program are
available on Partner Collaboration Portal (https://partner.samsungsemi.com:7777/partner/identity/anonymous/loginPage.do?_frameF=true).
Samsung Electronics strictly manages legally restricted
substances and voluntarily restricted substances of
which the use is restricted according to the “Operating
Regulations for Product and Environmental Management
Substances.”
To fundamentally prevent the inclusion of substances
subject to management in our products, we conduct
investigations twice a year on all partners that have
manufacturing facilities in Korea, and also register and
manage the status of secondary and tertiary partners in
the G-SRM system. By doing so, we strictly inspect and
manage the status of inclusion of target substances in
parts and finished products that are used in production
sites of partners.
In addition, to upgrade partners’ hazardous chemical
management, we perform suggestion of alternative
substances through field inspections and process
automation activities.
※ Based on the international environmental regulations,
such as RoHS, the EU restriction of hazardous substances
in electrical and electronic equipment, and REACH, the
EU regulation for registration, evaluation,
authorization, and restriction of chemicals, 25 types of
chemicals including benzene and normal hexane are under
management.
Samsung Electronics urges all partners to manage risks
in their working environments, and guarantee labor and
human rights of their employees by complying with the
statutes and practicing ethical management.
We share Samsung Electronics Code of Conduct, which
reflects the RBA (Responsible Business Alliance)
assessment criteria, with partners, and manage risks in
the working environments of partners through the
three-stage process of self-assessment, field
inspection, and third-party verification.
Through inspection on 85 items in five categories, such
as labor and human rights, health and safety,
environment, ethics, and governance, of the RBA
assessment criteria, we derive working environmental
improvement tasks for partners, and monitor and verify
partners’ improvement plans and the related measures.
Ultimately, we strive for sustainable supply chain
management by strengthening sustainability competencies
of our partners.
Samsung Electronics strictly manages legally restricted
substances and voluntarily restricted substances of
which the use is restricted according to the “Operating
Regulations for Product and Environmental Management
Substances.”
To fundamentally prevent the inclusion of substances
subject to management in our products, we conduct
investigations twice a year on all partners that have
manufacturing facilities in Korea, and also register and
manage the status of secondary and tertiary partners in
the G-SRM system. By doing so, we strictly inspect and
manage the status of inclusion of target substances in
parts and finished products that are used in production
sites of partners.
In addition, to upgrade partners’ hazardous chemical
management, we perform consulting activities to suggest
alternative substances, etc. through field
inspections.
※ Based on the international environmental regulations,
such as RoHS, the EU restriction of hazardous substances
in electrical and electronic equipment, and REACH, the
EU regulation for registration, evaluation,
authorization, and restriction of chemicals, 25 types of
chemicals including benzene and normal hexane are under
management.
Samsung Electronics operates “Health Improvement Center
for Partners” within Hwaseong Campus in order to manage
health of partners’ workers.
In addition to assessing the risk of cardiovascular
diseases of the employees of partners, healthcare
consulting service is provided to individual workers in
high-risk job groups. Moreover, to prevent
musculoskeletal diseases, 1:1 customized consulting by
individual diseases, such as through foot pressure
measuring, and the related health improvement programs
are provided.
In order to minimize negative impacts of mining in
conflict and high risk zones on the society and
environment, such as human rights violation and
environmental destruction, Samsung Electronics is
investigating the status of responsible mineral use
annually in all raw material suppliers that are trading
with the company. In addition, a guide has been
established to update the company’s management system
upon occurrence of changes.
Through investigation on the status of mineral use,
partners that make transactions with uncertified
refineries or those of which origins of minerals are
unclear are guided to change refineries to those
certified by the RMAP (Responsible Minerals Assurance
Process). In addition, trade of conflict minerals is
prevented by taking measures to restrict unit price
contract on the purchase system.
Details are available in “Samsung Electronics
Responsible Minerals Report” on the company website.
(https://www.samsung.com/uk/sustainability/overview/)
Under the highest management principle to achieve “legal
and ethical compliance,” Samsung Electronics, as a
global leading company, continuously strives to perform
business activities in legal and ethical ways. Based on
the management principles, we have established the Code
of Conduct and Guidelines for employees in an effort to
promote more responsible management activities.
* Link to Management Principles: https://www.samsung.com/uk/about-us/company-info/
* Link to Code of Conduct/Guidelines: https://www.samsung.com/uk/sustainability/labor-and-human-rights/
We operate a management process comprising three stages
of prevention (employee education/guide), monitoring
(inspection/survey), and follow-up management (result
analysis and establishment of measures). By providing
appropriate education, and setting inspection bodies and
frequency, we are continuously promoting improvement to
abide by the principles.
To improve business transparency and establish ethical
corporate culture, Samsung Electronics operates various
report channels through which violations to the
company’s management principles can be reported.
* Report Channel: https://sec-audit.com/common/identity/anonymous/ssoLogin.do
In addition to an anonymous reporting system, email,
address, phone number, and fax number are opened to
receive reports through various routes. In addition, the
secrecy of reporters is guaranteed and their identities
are protected to prevent any disadvantages.
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