LG Electronics Sustainability Management Report Published "Preparing for a Sustainable Future"

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] LG Electronics announced on the 2nd that it has published the ‘2019-2020 Sustainability Management Report.’

The LG Electronics Sustainability Management Report contributes to strengthening communication with stakeholders by transparently disclosing the sustainability management achievements, progress status, and future plans that LG Electronics pursues as a global corporate citizen to achieve its mid- to long-term sustainability management goals.

In this report, LG Electronics introduced in detail its sustainability management activities in the economic, social, and environmental sectors, including the fulfillment of social responsibilities.

In the ‘CEO Message,’ Kwon Bong-seok, CEO of LG Electronics, said, “Creating customer value through growth and change centered on digital transformation is the essence of the business LG Electronics pursues,” adding, “We will do our best to prepare for a sustainable future through three major sustainability management goals: ‘Promoting Intelligent Lifestyles,’ ‘Achieving Carbon Neutrality and Circular Economy,’ and ‘Realizing a Better Society.’”

LG Electronics is creating new customer value by applying artificial intelligence and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies to its products and services.

At CES 2020, an IT exhibition held in the United States earlier this year, LG Electronics introduced the ‘Levels of AI Experience,’ defining each stage as ▲Level 1 Efficiency ▲Level 2 Personalization ▲Level 3 Reasoning ▲Level 4 Exploration.

Last year, sales of LG Electronics’ health care home appliances grew approximately 2.5 times compared to 2016. Products such as the Styler, dryer, and dishwasher, which apply LG Electronics’ patented technology ‘True Steam,’ led this growth.

LG Electronics is also reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production stage to the usage stage of its products.

Last year, domestic and overseas production sites and offices emitted 1.5 million tons CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent tons, a value converting greenhouse gases into carbon dioxide emissions). This is about a 22% decrease compared to the 1.93 million tons CO2e emitted in 2017.

LG Electronics is reducing greenhouse gases during the product usage stage by developing energy-efficient products. In 2019 alone, it reduced approximately 60.48 million tons during the usage stage.

Additionally, LG Electronics produced 8,832 MWh (megawatt-hours) of solar energy last year. The U.S. subsidiary purchased Renewable Energy Certificates equivalent to 17,358 MWh, reducing greenhouse gases by 7,600 tons CO2e.

To reduce the environmental impact of its products, LG Electronics collected 354,035 tons of waste electronic products last year. This collection amount increased by about 42% compared to 2018. LG Electronics collects and processes waste electronics not only in regions with regulations related to waste appliance collection and disposal but also in regions without such regulations. Currently, waste appliance collection services operate in 51 countries and 85 regions.

LG Electronics has also continuously expanded its social contribution activities for local communities, benefiting 3 million people last year.

LG Electronics contributes to solving social issues such as environment and hygiene worldwide by utilizing differentiated products and technologies. Moreover, it operates various programs such as Employee Volunteer Day and Life’s Good Day, where global employees voluntarily participate and practice sharing in local communities.

Since 2011, LG Electronics, together with LG Chem, has been operating the ‘LG Social Campus’ program to support social economy enterprises in becoming self-reliant, achieving continuous results. Up to last year, 121 companies received financial support, and the average sales and employment of these companies increased by 27% and 15%, respectively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.