Samsung Cultural Foundation Achieves ISO Certification Through ESG Management Including Exhibition Waste Reduction

Exhibition Construction Waste Reduction and Provision of Sign Language Interpretation Videos etc.

International Standard ISO 14001, 45001 Certification Award Ceremony. Photo by Samsung Culture Foundation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Samsung Foundation of Culture announced on the 23rd that it has passed the international standard environmental and occupational health and safety management system certification audit through ESG management.

On the 22nd, the Samsung Foundation of Culture obtained the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and 45001 certifications for environmental and occupational health and safety management systems from the Korea Management Certification Institute.

With this certification as a milestone, the Samsung Foundation of Culture plans to carry out ESG practices in various areas such as ▲ ESG stakeholder forums ▲ carbon reduction initiatives ▲ launching eco-friendly products.

The foundation's ESG management practices are being introduced as representative cases addressing environmental issues at museum and art gallery sites.

Trends of exhibition construction waste reduced by modular partitions at Leeum Museum of Art. Photo by Samsung Foundation of Culture

The Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art introduced modular partitions in this year's special exhibitions, significantly reducing exhibition construction waste compared to previous construction methods. Kim Sungtae, the lead designer in charge of exhibition production, explained, “The exhibition construction waste from the reopening special exhibition 'Human, Seven Questions' last October was 27 tons, but in the first half of this year, it was reduced to 9.2 tons and 7.1 tons respectively for 'Art Spectrum 2022' and 'Ian Cheng: World Construction,' and we expect 4.7 tons for 'Cloud Walker,' opening in September.”

Additionally, the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art produced sign language interpretation videos for 15 representative collections of traditional and contemporary art. These videos are provided through the museum’s digital guides as well as on its website and YouTube channel.

Scene of young people explaining the lotus-patterned square-shaped bamboo slip. Photo by Samsung Foundation of Culture

Furthermore, to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities, the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art plans to hold invitation viewing events for people with disabilities (in October and December) in the second half of the year and will conduct an art appreciation program for hearing-impaired children with art instructors in cooperation with Seoul School for the Deaf and Seoul Samsung School (in November).

Ryu Moonhyung, CEO of the Samsung Foundation of Culture, stated, “We will collaborate more with various stakeholders to practice ESG in the cultural and artistic fields,” adding, “We will establish a system where employees can directly propose improvements to fundamental management systems such as environmental and occupational health and safety management even after the audit.”

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