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product environment performance

chemical management


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 on target substances

Our policy on the use and phase out of target substances is based on the following key principles:

Beyond Legal Compliance

Our first principle for managing the use of substances with significant environmental impacts is to be a responsible corporate citizen. This means that SAMSUNG Electronics often goes above and beyond legal requirements in phasing out target chemicals across our entire product range in all countries, even where there is no legal requirement to do so.

Decision making based on Scientific Evidence & the Precautionary Principle

Target substances (i.e. those of potential concern to human health or the environment) are identified and managed based on sound scientific evidence wherever possible. However, we will also consider cases where the evidence is conflicting and concern exists but has not been 100% scientifically proven.

By acting above and beyond legal requirements, and considering cases where the scientific evidence is conflicting or not yet absolute, SAMSUNG Electronics incorporates the Precautionary Principle into our approach for managing target substances.

A full list of target substances and how they are managed via the SAMSUNG Electronics Standard for the Control of Substances with Environmental Impacts within Products (SEC Standard 0QA-2049) can be found via clicking on the link below:

management of target substances

Voluntary phase out of Target Substances

In accordance with our policy on target substances, SAMSUNG Electronics has developed a list of substances which are not restricted by law but whose use in our products is monitored and reported by suppliers in order to develop appropriate measures for future restrictions and phase out programmes.

These substances, termed Class III, are selected based on:

  • Customer requirements;
  • Stakeholder concerns e.g. environmental NGOs, consumer organizations;
  • Early legislative proposals or government lists of high risk chemicals;
  • Evidence of harm to the environment or human health.

The setting of phase out schedules is then undertaken based on the level of concern and the potential availability of less-harmful alternatives. Class III therefore includes substances for which phase out dates have been set and are near completion in addition to potential future substances of concern. Additions to the list are made on an on-going basis resulting from dialogue with stakeholders and monitoring of expert research.

Examples of voluntary phase-out achieved to date include:

1. PVC:
PVC has some outstanding properties that make it a very versatile plastic suitable for many applications. However, some stakeholders believe that it can potentially have some very adverse environmental effects and for this reason SAMSUNG Electronics is committed to achieving phase out of PVC in all applications by 31st December 2010. The company has already substituted PVC use in packaging.
2. Brominated Flame Retardants:
Electrical and electronic equipment must meet strict flame retardancy standards in order to comply with product safety legislation and protect consumers. To meet these requirements, it is often necessary to add flame retarding chemical substances.
In general, the most effective and widely used substances are 'Brominated Flame Retardants' (BFRs) however there is now increasing concern that some brominated compounds may have adverse ecological and toxicological properties, albeit to varying degrees. This has led to the European Commission banning certain PBBs and PBDEs in electrical and electronic equipment on the European market.
SAMSUNG Electronics is investigating alternative, non-brominated flame retardants, to identify the most suitable substitute for each application. So far, SAMSUNG Electronics is proud to announce that:
  • Certain types of halogen-free memory chips and semiconductors are available;
  • In 2005, use of TBBP-A in TV and monitor housing was reduced by over 50% and the phase out of TBBP-A in TV housing was completed in 2006.
The current list of Class III substances can be found via clicking on the link below:
management of target substances
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