Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital convergence technologies and device solutions, announced the second year results of its sweeping PlanetFirst initiative, a company wide commitment to become one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies by 2013.
Marking the progress towards achieving the comprehensive sustainability goals set out under the PlanetFirst initiative, Samsung outlined the following key milestones:
- Reduced sales-normalized greenhouse emissions from its manufacturing facilities by 38% during the first half of 2011, when compared against emission levels at the end of 2008.
- Attained global eco-labels for 2,210 product models as of the end of 2010, making the company No. 1 in the world for environmentally friendly products for the fifth straight year.
- Invested an additional 1.6 trillion won (about $1.40bn) in environmentally friendly product development and green manufacturing sites in 2010.
“Samsung continues striving to meet the global, companywide commitment laid out in 2009 under our Eco-Management 2013 initiative,” said Sangsuk Roh, President of Samsung Electronics Levant. “We’re focused on instilling an eco-management mindset in all employees in order to become a true leader in sustainable business practices.”
Samsung reported its progress across four core objectives laid out under the Eco-Management 2013 initiative, which was unveiled in July 2009:
Reducing greenhouse emissions from facilities and products
- As of the first half of 2011, Samsung has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions at its manufacturing facilities by 4.58 tons per 100 million won, equivalent to a sales-normalized cut of 38% from 2008 levels. This puts Samsung on-track to exceed its target of a 50% reduction by 2013.
- New Samsung products are on average 18.5% more energy efficient compared with 2008 levels. With this, estimated indirect carbon emissions from newly introduced Samsung products were reduced by 22.89 million tons from January 2009 through June 2011. This reduction is equivalent to offsetting the greenhouse gases emitted in generating the electricity to power 2.6 million U.S. households for a year.
- In addition to carbon emissions inventorying for Samsung Electronics manufacturing sites, the company has established a system to track emissions of partner and supplier firms globally as well as indirect emissions generated by employee air travel.
- Earlier this year, Samsung received the Energy Management System certification (EnMS) for its Tangjeong Display City, and in July acquired ISO 50001 certification for its “Smart City” initiative in Gumi, Korea.
Expanding eco-friendly products offering
- Samsung has attained global eco-labels for 2,210 product models as of the end of 2010, making the company No. 1 in the world for environmentally friendly products for the fifth straight year. Additionally, Samsung achieved Good Eco-Product ratings for 90% of its product lines in 2010, surpassing its intermediary goal.
- In recognition of its efforts, Samsung received six Eco-Design honors at the prestigious International Consumer Electronics Show 2011 Innovation Awards, the most ever for the company.
- Samsung has established an internal eco-product development committee, where all product development team leaders across the enterprise participate to encourage the creation of innovative green products and solutions.
Building eco-management partnerships around the world
- In Korea, Samsung held an ecosystem conservation campaign in the Korea National Arboretum and the adjacent Gwangneung Forest, a UNESCO-designated biosphere. It also organized an event for Samsung employees and their family members to learn about climate change and renewable energy.
- In the United States, the company’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative sought to engage local communities to propose solutions to environmental problems, while in Europe the PlanetFirst campaign highlighted the potential for future eco-friendly products and services.
- In China and Southeast Asia, Samsung has embarked on a campaign to “adopt” a mountains or rivers, while in Brazil it has partnered with the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation to promote environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitant communities and the users of Amazon conservation areas.
Investing in eco-friendly R&D and manufacturing facilities
- Samsung invested a total of 1.6 trillion Korean won (about $1.40bn) in environmentally friendly product development and green manufacturing sites in 2010. This brings Samsung’s total investment during the first two year of the PlanetFirst initiative to 2.7 trillion won (about $2.37).
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