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Samsung
Semiconductor’s
sustainable
approach to
chemical
management

We value
transparency
in chemical
management

Transparency leads
Multiple rows of solar panels seen diagonal across a green field. Three wind turbines seen against a blue sky. Close-up of Earth in space with the sun in the background.
to sustainability

Transparency
Multiple rows of solar panels seen diagonal across a green field. Three wind turbines seen against a blue sky.
leads
Close-up of Earth in space with the sun in the background.
to sustainability

Five test tubes seen from the front with the fourth one seen full of a green liquid.

We value transparency
with
chemicals because
we value
the health of the
environment
and
our employees.

Samsung Semiconductor cares deeply about the environment and the health of employees and that’s why we have strict protocols and systems when it comes to managing chemical substances, and why we work hard to minimize the negative effects of the chemicals used on-site and in our products. Our internal regulations follow global environmental guides including the EU’s RoHS
(Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive and REACH
(Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation. We also have systems in place that monitor each step involving chemical substances, from purchase to
disposal, ensuring a safe and sustainable management of the chemicals. And in the interest of transparency, we have publicly disclosed the Samsung Semiconductor Manufacturing Restricted Substances List since 2018.

Let’s take a more detailed look at what measures we have in place to ensure the chemicals we use are managed in a safe and
sustainable manner.

We help our partners
manage
and
use chemicals safely.

In addition to conducting regular inspections at our partner sites to make sure the working environment and conditions are safe,
we help our partners establish procedures to handle restricted substances and improve their substance control systems.
We also provide advice on updating local exhaust systems, chemical storage facilities and chemical leakage prevention facilities. In 2020, after carrying out site inspections and consulting for partners that handle chemicals of high concern, 13 partners were able to replace certain chemicals with safer alternatives,
and 7 partners upgraded their local exhaust systems.

The same strict
standard
is applied
to all the
chemicals
we handle

Illustrations of a microscope, a hazardous material container and a piece of paper with a checklist.

Environmental
analysis lab

Analyzing 6 items
and
4 types of
Phthalates stated
in RoHS

Environment Chemicals
Integrated Management
System (e-CIMS)

Determining the use of
restricted chemicals
within
the supply chain

Eco partner
certification

Evaluating our suppliers’
environmental standards in
their parts, raw materials
and
production processes

We carry out strict control and management of all the chemicals in our products by conducting rigorous preliminary inspections and handling procedures for parts and raw materials.

In addition to maintaining control through our “Standards for Control of Substances used in products”, we also take preemptive measures by setting up plans to reduce the use of substances of concern, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and allergic dyes. Our Environment Chemicals Integrated Management System (e-CIMS) helps us determine the existence of restricted substances in the parts and products of our suppliers, ensuring that our products are safe and sustainable.

Environmental
safety
expert-
approved
safety
measures

We carry out periodic training for employees who handle chemical substances and regular inspections of storage and handling facilities to create an environment for the safe and sustainable management of chemicals. We also set up safety measures at facilities that handle chemicals based on environmental safety expert evaluations. Reducing the use of chemicals is another area we place importance on. And taking a step further, we continue to develop substitute substances, reduce the concentration of chemicals used and discontinue the use of chemicals whenever possible. We also continue to strengthen our chemical management capabilities on all Samsung
Semiconductor sites and work hard to minimize damage in the event of chemical-related accidents.

Even at this
very
moment,

Samsung
Semiconductor
is
striving to minimize
the impact of
chemicals
on our
environment and
on our health

  • Managing chemicals in a safe
    and sustainable manner

    Illustrations of a clipboard with a checklist, a hazardous material container, truck, packaged box and trash can
    Preliminary Chemical
    Evaluation System
    Inventory System
    Preliminary
    Chemical
    Evaluation
    Purchase
    Warehouse
    Registration
    (place of use)
    Use
    (inventory
    management)
    Disposal

    Preliminary Chemical Evaluation System

    *Review the optimal management process by analyzing hazardousness and danger to the environment, health, and safety (EHS)

    Illustrations of a clipboard with a checklist, a hazardous material container, truck, packaged box and trash can
    Request from
    the relevant
    department
    Preliminary
    review by
    experts*
    Deliberation
    on review
    outcomes
    Approval
    Use
    Not for Use

    Preliminary review: Based on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), chemical warranty letters, and letters of confirmation (LOC)

    Samsung Semiconductor has rigorous procedures that govern each step involving chemical substances, from procurement to disposal. Before purchasing any new chemicals, we submit the chemicals to experts for review. In 2020, a total of 7,829 chemical substances were reviewed, and only the approved chemicals were purchased. We track and monitor chemical substances from the moment they arrive at Samsung Semiconductor sites, beginning with measuring the exact amount that came in. The monitoring continues until the used chemicals are disposed of in a safe and sustainable manner, following a strict procedure.

  • 2 prohibited, 23 restricted

    *Limited to manual processing
    Category Substance Limitations of Use* Applied to
    Prohibited Benzene Benzene All Process All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Prohibited n-Hexane n-Hexane All Process All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Dimethylformamide Dimethyl-formamide Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Nitromethane Nitromethane Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Chloroform Chloroform Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted TCE TCE Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Toluene Toluene Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted PCE PCE Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Methanol Methanol Cleansing/
    Degreasing/
    Cooling    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Cyclohexanone Cyclohexanone Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Dichloromethane Dichloro-
    methane         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites and all suppliers
    Restricted Ethylene Oxide Ethylene-
    Oxide         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 2-Methoxyethanol 2-Methoxy-
    ethanol         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 2-Methoxyethyl acetate 2-Methoxy-
    ethyl acetate         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 2-Ethoxyethanol 2-Ethoxy-
    ethanol         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate 2-Ethoxyethyl-
    acetate         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted Formaldehyde Formaldehyde Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted Diethylene Glycol
    Dimethyl Ether     Diethylene-
    Glycol-
    Dimethyl Ether         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 1, 2-Dichloropropane 1, 2-Dichloro-
    propane         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 1, 2-Butadiene 1, 2-Butadiene Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted N, N-Dimethylacetamide N, N-Dimethyl-
    acetamide         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 1-Bromopropane 1-Bromo-
    propane         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted 2-Bromopropane 2-Bromo-
    propane         		Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted Acrylonitrile Acrylonitrile Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites
    Restricted Vinyl chloride Vinyl chloride Cleansing/
    Degreasing    		 All Samsung
    Electronics
    worksites

    Our list of restricted and prohibited chemical substances was most recently disclosed in the Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report 2021. The 25 chemicals on the list were categorized as either strictly prohibited or allowed only under restricted conditions. Benzene and n-Hexane, for example, were classified as strictly prohibited,
    while the remaining 23 chemicals, including Nitromethane and Methanol, were designated for use only under
    certain conditions.

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