Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has announced plans to source renewable energy for 100% of the energy used for all of its factories, office buildings and operational facilities in the U.S., Europe and China by 2020.
In line with this commitment, Samsung has joined the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles and the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewables Center.
In Korea, Samsung says it fully supports the government’s strategic plan to increase the country’s renewable energy use by 20% by 2030. Beginning this year, as an initial commitment, Samsung will install approximately 42,000 square meters of solar in Samsung Digital City, its headquarters in Suwon. The company will continue to add approximately solar arrays and geothermal power generation facilities beginning in 2019 at its Pyeongtaek campus and 2020 at its Hwaseong campus.
As part of its extended strategy, Samsung will also engage its partners across the supply chain. Beginning next year, Samsung plans to work with its top 100 partner companies to help them set their own renewable energy targets, thanks to a partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project Supply Chain Program, which the company intends to join in 2019.
“Samsung Electronics is fulfilling its duty as a corporate citizen by expanding and supporting the use of renewable energy. As demonstrated by our expanded commitment, we are focused on protecting our planet and are doing our part as a global environmental steward,” says Won Kyong Kim, executive vice president and head of global public affairs for Samsung Electronics.
“We welcome Samsung Electronics’ declaration to expand the rollout of renewable energy across its global sites,” adds Jochem Verberne, WWF’s global partnerships director. “This is an important step, and we look forward to working with Samsung on further measures to reduce the company’s climate impact across its value chains.”
