Samsung Electronics Expands to 7 Sites Certified with Highest Grade by the International Water Association

Increased from 1 to 7
5 Domestic and 1 Chinese Sites Certified This Year

Samsung Electronics announced on the 21st that it has expanded the number of business sites certified with the highest grade, 'Platinum,' by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) from one to seven.

AWS is the world's largest water management certification organization established with the participation of international organizations such as the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). It evaluates whether companies have established a comprehensive water management system.

Photo of the pond inside the Pyeongtaek Plant of the DS Division, which has obtained AWS Platinum certification.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

▲Stable water management ▲Management of water pollutants ▲Water hygiene ▲Impact on aquatic ecosystems within the watershed ▲Governance establishment, among a total of 100 evaluation items, are classified into three levels: Platinum, Gold, and Core, based on the results.

Samsung Electronics' DS Division first received the 'Platinum' certification for its Hwaseong Campus in March last year, and this year expanded it to the Giheung and Pyeongtaek campuses as well as Xi'an in China, acquiring certification for a total of four semiconductor business sites, proving the excellence of its water management system. The company is pursuing certification for the Cheonan and Onyang sites and plans to complete obtaining the Platinum grade for all domestic semiconductor business sites within the year, followed by expansion to overseas sites.

Samsung Electronics' DX Division also obtained the highest 'Platinum' certification from AWS this year for three business sites: Suwon, Gumi, and Gwangju, and plans to expand certification to all domestic and overseas business sites with water treatment facilities in the future.

The fact that seven Samsung Electronics business sites received AWS Platinum certification is the result of continuous water management efforts, including ▲reducing water usage at business sites ▲managing the quality of discharged water ▲analyzing and mitigating water-related risks ▲establishing water councils with public institutions, stakeholders, NGOs, and others.

AWS also highly evaluated Samsung Electronics for setting challenging goals and establishing governance through agreements with the Ministry of Environment and local governments to promote the reuse of treated wastewater.

More than 270 business sites of over 70 global companies worldwide have undergone AWS certification audits, but only about 50 business sites have obtained Platinum certification.

Song Du-geun, Vice President and Head of the EHS Center at Samsung Electronics' DS Division, said, "Obtaining the AWS Platinum certification is the result of continuous water management efforts made together with stakeholders. We will continue to supplement any shortcomings through additional AWS certifications and strengthen cooperation with the government, local communities, and related industries for water conservation."

Meanwhile, on the occasion of 'World Water Day' on the 22nd, Samsung Electronics will carry out various water conservation activities at domestic and overseas business sites, including cleaning nearby rivers, protecting aquatic ecosystems, conducting water-saving campaigns at business sites, supporting drinking water for vulnerable groups, and providing water resource education for students.

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