2014 Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report
Water Conservation
3R
Water Resource Risks
Using the water resource management tools distributed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and the
WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development), Samsung Electronics reviewed the water resource
risks in the 34 manufacturing plants that it owns. According to the Carbon Disclosure Project’s recommendations,
Samsung Electronics analyzed each water risk associated with its business sites located in water-stressed countries
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
and developed differentiated emergency countermeasures for each site.
39 41
Regional Water Intake Quantity (6 subsidiaries in Korea, 28 global subsidiaries)
34 35
Korea Global
Korea Global
2012
2013
Water Intensity (Withdrawal/Sales)
(Unit: ton/KRW 100 Million)
63.9%
Korea
65.9%
Number of
Subsidiaries
Withdrawal
Discharge
Water-Stressed Countries
(unit: 1,000 tons)
(unit: 1,000 tons)
(No. of Operation Sites)
Asia
25
61,641
48,605
Korea (6), India(2)
Latin America
5
6,691
5,358
Europe
4
337
294
Region
Global
Recycling Rate in 2013
Excluding LCD and including LED business
Poland (1)
* FAO water resources management tools were used.
Risk Management
Description
Water quality degradation
Floods
Physical
Risks
Changes in regulations on
water usage & disposal
E stablish internal regulations on waste water concentration beyond
legal requirements
Increase water recycling to reduce waste
Efficiency standards
legislation
E valuate water efficiency for new facilities; invest in improvements for
water efficiency in existing facilities
Water Management
Basic
Philosophy
Uncertainty over new
legislation
Lawsuits resulting from
disposal of waste water
Continuously monitor waste water
Establish an environmental management system (EMS) for new manufacturing facilities
Waste water leakage, etc
Establish and activate emergency response protocols
Enhance internal and external communication about the company’s
water resources management
Risks
Water Resources
Samsung Electronics recognizes the vital importance of water to society and is committed
Water is supplied to Samsung Electronics on a continuous basis by water providers. However, the company is striving
to being a responsible corporate citizen.
to reduce water consumption and minimize risks associated with potential water shortages by building dual main
water supply lines and sufficient water storage facilities. Meanwhile, waste water released from its operation sites is
safely treated through internal and external treatment facilities. When waste water is released directly into streams
through internal treatment facilities, Samsung Electronics applies stricter internal standards than stipulated by legal
requirements, while monitoring the waste water quality in real-time. In an effort to conserve water resources, the
2. Engage employees on the importance
Educate employees on the impact of the company’s water consumption and the risks of
of water reduction and engraining it into
water shortages on the business, communities, and environment.
the corporate culture.
company also promotes the recycling of water by retreating waste water and sewage generated at operation sites,
thereby improving the efficiency of water reuse.
Water Resources Status (2013 Global)
3. Cooperate with public water
policies.
Proactively contribute to the establishment and implementation of water resource management policies by international institutes, the government and local authorities.
4. Disclose the company’s policies and
Transparently disclose company policies, water use, and efforts to reduce water consumpactivities on water resource
tion to stakeholders, including local communities.
management.
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Continuously monitor global environmental legislation trends
tional
1. Reduce Samsung Electronics’ water
Analyze the impacts of Samsung Electronics’ products and operations on water resources
consumption and minimize risks assoand implement new technologies to minimize water consumption and water resource risks.
ciated with potential water shortages.
Courses of
Action
Create wetlands and establish embankments
Secure natural-disaster insurance
uild dual main water supply lines and sufficient water storage facilities
B
to prevent disruptions of work
Risks
Reputa-
Assure water quality throughout water pre-treatment process
Water supply disruptions
Regulatory
Water shortage has become a prominent a prominent issue worldwide. In order to fulfill its responsibility as a global IT
leader, Samsung Electronics has established company-wide water resource management policies, conservation goals, and
strategies and strategies. In addition, the company has joined global efforts to resolve the issue of water depletion while
working to minimize serious management risks. In 2012, the company developed comprehensive water conservation plans
and has since expanded its efforts to reduce water consumption by analyzing its water-related risks.
Risk Countermeasures
Unit: 1,000 tons
Reuse of Water in 2013
45,262
K tons
Water Inflow
Industrial water
47,765
Municipal water
19,847
Water Discharge
Ground water
1,069
Internal treatment External treatment
facilities
facilities
44,144
10,113
Recycled water
quantity
45,262
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Sustainability Overview
Material Issues
Facts & Figures
Appendices
Samsung Electronics
Water supply
sources
Waste Water Streams in Korea
Industrial
water
Manufacturing
process
Municipal
water
Reuse
2014 Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report
Streams
Internal
treatment
facilities
Operation
Site
Suwon
Destination
Hwaseong
Woncheoli Stream
Giheung
Osan Stream
Gumi
-
Gwangju
Onyang
-
Gokgyo
Stream
Ground
water
Waste water
Impact of Waste Water on Public Waters
Samsung Electronics discharges all of its water generated at its operation sites after undergoing treat-
External treatment facilities
ment processes that meet legal requirements.
Operation sites with internal treatment facilities comply with internal standards that are even stricter
| Water Resource Flow |
than legal standards and carefully monitor the water. For some of the domestic operation sites located
inside industrial complexes and overseas operation sites, waste water generated at the operation
Water Use Reduction Target and Water Resource Conservation Efforts
sites is first internally processed and then re-processed through external treatment facilities.
Samsung Electronics actively implements conservation activities to achieve its goal of reducing the
use of water by 50 tons/KRW 100 million by 2015, in terms of water consumption relative to sales. The
Ecological Status of Waste Water Streams
company’s efforts can be broadly divided into two types: (1) minimize water consumption by improving manufacturing processes, and (2) optimize water use by retreating and recycling waste water. As
a result of these efforts, Samsung Electronics conserved 45,262,000 tons of water in 2013.
Waste Water Stream
Woncheolli Stream in
Hwaseong
Waste Water Stream Ecological Status Report
Measurement institution: Kyunghee University
Key findings
[Water temperature] The water temperature of the waste water is similar to that of Woncheolli Stream and thus has little impact on the aquatic ecosystem
[Fish species] 2,249 fishes of 17 species were found
Optimize water management
Install waste water treatment
Recycle waste water in other
processes for utility systems and
systems for optimum recycling
processes
semiconductor production
Re-process acid/alkaline and
Re-use ultra-pure water for other
Optimize water used for ultra-pure
organic waste water for the ultra-
processes
water production, web scrubber,
pure water production system
Re-use condensed water gener-
cooling tower, and waste water
Re-treat sewage to be used for fire
ated by the outdoor air handling
processing facilities.
system and gardening
unit and concentrated water
discharged from the cooling tower
(Crucian carp: 40.6 percent, minnow: 38.7 percent)
[Aquatic ecosystem] More than 22 species of benthic organisms were found
[Ecological toxicity] The waste water measurement results show that it has little impact
on the stream
Osan Stream in
Giheung
for the Wet scrubber
Measurement institution: Korea Ecology and Environment Institute
Key findings
[Water temperature] The water temperature of the waste water is similar to that of Osan
Stream Stream and thus has little impact on the aquatic ecosystem
[Fish species] 466 fishes of 14 species were found
Internal/External Communications Regarding Water Resources
(Crucian carp: 29.6 percent, minnow: 23.4 percent)
Samsung Electronics discloses water resource-related information of its operation sites to its stake-
[Aquatic ecosystem] More than 18 species of benthic organisms were found
holders, including employees, and local communities, in a transparent manner. The company provides
[Ecological toxicity] The waste water measurement results show that it has little impact
water conservation guidelines to its employees and encourages them to make the guidelines part of
on the stream
their daily lives. Employees can also check the status of Samsung Electronics’ water resource management. In local communities, the company hosts river ecosystem preservation activities in collaboration
with NGOs, employees’ families, and students.
Gokgyo Stream in
Onyang
Measurement institution: Hoseo University
Key findings
[Survey location] Galdong Stream, a tributary of Gokgyo Stream
[Stream pollution factors-pH, DO, BOD,COD] There is little impact on the stream
Environmental Conservation
Activities at Giheung Plant
Aquatic Ecosystem Preservation and Water Quality Improvement Activities
[Water eutrophicaitoneutrophication-TN, TP] There is little impact on the stream
In collaboration with local universities, semiconductor plants closely monitor the water quality of
waste water streams—as well as their impact on the aquatic ecosystem—and continuously improve
activities. For example, since large amounts of steam are generated by discharged water from the
company’s operation sites during the winter season, the company installed facilities to lower the temperature of the water below 10℃ to prevent disruptions to the river ecosystem. The company also
prevented secondary damage caused by generation of steam around waste water outlets.
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