corporate activity
Notas de Prensa
product environment performance
SAMSUNG Electronics makes an effort to develop environment-friendly product that minimizing an impact to environment through whole process from getting raw materials, production, transportation, usage and end-of-life disposal by adding 'environment' on function, price, quality, design that were the essence for product development.
For this process, we takes a responsibility for whole process through LCA and recycle evaluation and by operating recycling center for dealing with an efficient treatment of the waste product.
- policy & principle
- regional compliance
- voluntary programs
- recycling statistics
- recycling in Korea
voluntary programs
SAMSUNG Electronics is keen to take responsibility for its products at the end of their long working lives, both where this is legally required and where it isn't. This responsibility includes ensuring that all collected products are recycled in the most efficient way to minimize the volumes of unrecoverable materials and maximize the usable materials
We are reporting the recycling amounts for Korea and Japan from 2004, for Europe from 2005, and for the United States from 2006. For 2006, we have forecasted an estimate of volumes we expect to recycle this year.
Korea
- 1. Mobile phone
- SAMSUNG Electronics is operating its own voluntary take-back system across Korea (Republic), using a network of 130 of service centers and Anycall Plaza retail outlets (exclusive outlets for SAMSUNG's 'Anycall' brand). End of Life mobile phones are collected either free of charge, or in some cases with a customer reward. The returned phones are then sorted and transported to recycling facilities for scrapping. The scraps are transformed as raw materials for other products in metal smelter.
- 2. printer toner cartridge
- visit imagingworld.co.kr
- Our Digital Printer Division operates the "SAMSUNG Green Take-back Program" in Korea for waste printer toner cartridges. This voluntary take-back program was started from August of 2004 and the service is provided free of charge for both B2C and B2B products. The customer can request a collection either via the internet or by calling the logistics company who dispatch a fleet of collection agents. The waste toners are delivered to a recycling centre for safe disposal. (see diagram below)
[SAMSUNG Green Take-back process for used printer Toner in Korea]
Europe
- 1. printer toner cartridge (STAR programme)
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visit samsung.com/printer/star/
Launched in 2005, the STAR (SAMSUNG Takeback And Recycling) programme aims not only to address the growing environmental problem of waste printer consumables in landfill, but also to set a new benchmark for voluntary manufacturer's cartridge return schemes in our industry. Unlike other schemes, where customers are fooled into thinking their empty cartridges are recycled, but in reality many of them are sent for incineration, the STAR programme was created to ensure proper recycling of every returned unit. All returned cartridges are recycled back into useful materials, which then go on to become new products again. Any parts that cannot be recycled are treated and disposed of in a way that causes minimal environmental impact. SAMSUNG is investigating how to reuse the recycled materials back into new cartridges. This ensures that the maximum value from each returned cartridge is obtained at the smallest environmental cost. Launched initially in 16 European countries SAMSUNG plans to expand the STAR programme in Europe this year, and is considering launching the programme in the Americas and Asia too, depending on market reactions. Bulk collections from businesses will also soon be available - 2. Mobile phones - UK
- Currently under investigation, SAMSUNG is looking at collaboration with a take-back scheme and the major UK mobile phone networks, on promoting recycling, reuse and extended lifespan of used mobile phones. Ensuring correct high-quality parts are used for refurbishment may increase costs, but greatly reduces risks of harm to users from poorly repaired phones with imitation parts, as has been witnessed in the Middle East and SE Asia.
- Launched initially in 16 European countries SAMSUNG plans to expand the STAR programme in Europe this year, and is considering launching the programme in the Americas and Asia too, depending on market reactions. Bulk collections from businesses will also soon be available.
Other
- 1. Mobile phones - Global
- SAMSUNG Electronics telecom division was a founder signatory of the United Nations Environment Programme - Mobile Phone partnership Initiative (MPPI), along with all the other major global manufacturers of mobile phones. Part of the MPPI has been to agree on guidelines for developing countries on how to set up and run successful take-back programmes for used mobiles to stem the tide of EOL phones and "reused" phones in the countries where the West's wastes migrate to. Low cost phones have provided enormous benefits to struggling economies in bridging the digital divide, but not many countries have recognised the environmental risks from the rapidly accumulating WEEE streams.
- Project 2.1 of the MPPI is now ready to set up pilot projects in Egypt and Romania, to test out the guidelines for a take-back scheme that uses a mixture of refurbishment and recycling to offset collection costs and make the system sustainable. Future pilot projects are being considered in South-Eastern Europe, South America and Africa.
- 2. Mobile phones - Green management website and take-back service
- visit uk.samsungmobile.com
- As of February 1st, 2007, SAMSUNG Mobile opened "Green Management Website" in the SAMSUNG Fun Club (visit samsungmobile.com ) Once visitors are there, we can relay important environmental information that is designed especially for consumers. This website is set to operate in seven different languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Chinese.
- At this website, visitors can find all sorts of information that relate to SAMSUNG's environmental affairs, such as :
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- Environmental policy, structure and management plans
- Management programs and activities for Environment, Safety and Health (ESH)
- Stakeholder relations: Green report and global environmental partnership programs
- Meanwhile, consumers can find out valuable information about:
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- Product recycling processes
- Product take back locations (contact address), and
- Product Eco-Declarations
- Proudly, we offer free take back and recycling services for consumers around the world. As such, consumers can find 235 collection locations across 32 countries at the Product Information webpage related to return of old products. We also provide the Eco-Declaration of products on sale. SAMSUNG will continue to develop an expanded take back service through updated consumer awareness, such as through our Eco-Declaration of products sold mentioned above.
USA
SAMSUNG Electronics America (SEA) has a rich history for participation and development for electronic waste programs that include state and provincial take-back participation; pilot projects; SAMSUNG take back programs; and participation in development of e-waste system organizations.
SEA is a participating licensee of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), which has collected over 22 million pounds of rechargeable batteries since 1994. In 2006, working with recyclers SAMSUNG collected, processed, and financed 12,000 pounds of monitors directly from our customers; and has separately financed the recycling of over 100,000 pounds of SAMSUNG products in the state of Maine, including partial payment for recycling of non-SAMSUNG products. Meanwhile, the California system has successfully processed an estimated 2.5 million pounds of SAMSUNG electronic equipment for re-use and recycling in 2006.
SEA has been involved for several years in electronic product collection events in Seattle (Good Guys), Minnesota, and New Jersey. SAMSUNG contributed $5,000 for the Good Guys collection events, which aided in the collection of 107,000 pounds of CRT glass; 15,000 pounds of other metals; 11,000 pounds of circuit boards; 26,000 pounds of plastics; and 7,000 pounds of copper wire. SAMSUNG is eager to increase participation in take-back events in 2007, both directly through our recycling partners and through collection events.
As an active participant in E-Waste solutions, SAMSUNG has fully registered for electronic product and packaging recycling responsibility in California, Maryland, Maine, and Washington states; as well as in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and soon to be British Columbia. Our ultimate goal is two-fold. First, to provide overall electronic product take back and recycling coverage for all states and provinces of North America. As seen from above, we have established a good start and poised to support expanded coverage in 2007 and beyond. Secondly, we seek to show a focus on designing products for the environment. As such, SEA has established a relationship with EPEAT and is aggressively working to list all of our qualified products to show purchasers that our products are designed with the environment in mind.
Lastly, SAMSUNG continues strong action towards taking responsibility of the electronic waste challenge as we involve in organizational development of e-waste finance and operational systems. We are actively involved in developing the Washington State electronic waste handling system that will be implemented on January 1, 2009.
China
bajo ancho de banda
