Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, has made significant progress towards its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2030. The South Korean tech giant has increased its transition rate to 31%, up 11% from the previous year. This puts Samsung on track to meet its target and demonstrates its commitment to sustainability.
The consumer electronics industry, which includes technology companies like Samsung, is one of the largest carbon emitters globally, responsible for 2%-3% of global emissions in 2021. However, the tech sector has been actively working to reduce its carbon footprint, with major companies pledging to achieve net zero emissions. Samsung, in particular, has the largest carbon footprint among major tech companies, emitting over 20 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2021. The company heavily relies on fossil fuels for its power consumption, with more than 80% coming from non-renewable sources.
To address these challenges, Samsung has implemented various strategies to decarbonize its operations. The company has committed over $5 billion to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. While this target is later than some of its competitors, such as Apple, Google, and Amazon, Samsung has set ambitious goals to tackle climate change. These goals include increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix and reducing process gasses produced by semiconductor manufacturing. Samsung also aims to optimize the energy efficiency of its products, increase water recycling during manufacturing, and develop carbon capture technology.
In addition to these efforts, Samsung has been buying carbon offset credits since 2013 to compensate for unavoidable emissions. The company has also joined the global movement RE100, which aims to transition to 100% renewable energy. Samsung has already completed its transition to using renewables in its Device eXperience divisions in Brazil, India, and Vietnam. The company has reported a transition rate of 31% and has achieved a significant reduction in CO2e compared to 2019 levels.
Samsung’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond reducing carbon emissions. The company has also focused on using recycled materials in its products and packaging. For example, the Galaxy S6 phone is made with 99.9% recyclable material and comes in recyclable packaging. Samsung aims to use recycled resin in 50% of plastic parts by 2030 and in all plastic components by 2050. Furthermore, the company has made efforts to preserve water resources by reusing 117 million tonnes of water in 2022, a 29% increase from the previous year.
Samsung’s sustainability efforts have been recognized by various organizations. The company received the Sustainable Materials Management Champion Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency for its innovation in using recycled materials. Samsung’s commitment to sustainability and its progress towards achieving net zero emissions demonstrate its dedication to driving competitiveness and technological innovation while addressing environmental challenges.
As the world aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the tech industry, including major players like Samsung, has a crucial role to play. Samsung’s sustainability efforts and its commitment to decarbonize its operations set an example for other companies in the sector. By investing in renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and adopting circular economy practices, Samsung is leading the way towards a low-carbon future.
