We now have to navigate uncharted waters where everything is changing — from technology to markets to consumers — and we face additional challenges of the pandemic and uncertainties in the global economy.

As such, the “environment” and the “experience” of how we live has become more important, and our concern for creating a sustainable future has deepened.

As the global leader in consumer electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), I believe Samsung Electronics has a responsibility to establish an eco-conscious value chain through our innovative technologies and products, as well as to provide more valuable and enlightening experiences to each and every consumer.

That is why Samsung has been focusing all its efforts to recognize sustainable innovation as the essential value and key element in our business.

At CES 2023 in January, Samsung will outline its plan for “Bringing Calm to Our Connected World” by underlining our responsibilities and vision to strive towards this goal and share our journey together for creating a sustainable and prosperous future.

SmartThings: Providing Evolved Hyper-Connected Experiences That Are Invisible Yet Present in Our Lives

At CES 2023, Samsung will present a new and expanded SmartThings experience that integrates your home ecosystem even more seamlessly with a system, that is supported by enhanced security.

We will also explore easier and safer ways to connect devices and appliances, and how to make customized experiences for each user even more precise with AI.

We are closely cooperating with various industry partners to embody the SmartThings experience, creating a new path to provide optimal and customized connected experiences to users according to their individual preferences and lifestyles.

Sustainable Future in the Hyper-Connected Era

In order to provide better daily life experiences, Samsung has been paying attention to how technology can address difficulties and problems encountered in everyday life. In addition, we have continued to identify ways to contribute to creating a more sustainable future by developing products that are sustainable and equipped with innovative technologies.

Since we announced our new environmental strategy in September, we have underlined how we plan to contribute to overcoming the climate crisis through our innovative technologies, including ultra-low power semiconductors and energy saving products. We also announced our goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Saving energy through SmartThings and developing eco-conscious innovative products showcase how we are upholding our sustainable, forward-thinking values.

In addition, we are actively promoting our environmental and societal efforts by participating in sustainable business management partnerships with other stakeholders, such as international organizations, industries and citizens.

We joined the steering committee for the Asia Clean Energy Coalition (ACEC) together with major global companies and NGOs to expand renewable energy supply to its major production bases in Asia.

Furthermore, we joined the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) as a founding member during the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference held in November. Through this organization, we aim to set and implement plans to reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions of the semiconductor industry, create eco-conscious ecosystems by setting a carbon reduction target, develop greenhouse gas reduction technologies and support green technology startups.

We will continue to pave the way for the hyper-connected era, empowering consumers to help create a sustainable future by simply using Samsung products.

One More Step for Mankind: Samsung’s Sustainable Journey

When developing new technology for users, we have always been asking the question, “What should we do?” rather than “What can we do?” This is because technology can change the way people communicate with and experience the world, make daily life more enriching and can act as the driving force toward a better future.

At CES 2023, we will show our industry-leading efforts that go beyond simply making great products with advanced technologies and aim to unleash new experiences through technology, making our daily lives and the world even better.

Samsung Malaysia Electronics will announce its Solve for Tomorrow 2022 competition this August, calling out Form 1 and Form 2 students across all national secondary schools nationwide to encourage communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and teamwork in discovering and nurturing social innovation ideas that resolve the community’s most pressing problems.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow is a global educational programme designed to increase interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and to encourage youths to apply STEM in finding creative solutions to solve challenges and address risks faced in their local communities.

Samsung Malaysia Electronics is set to reveal the 2022 Solve for Tomorrow Themes, the Inspirational Leaders behind the chosen pillars and competition details.

Solve For Tomorrow Livestream: How to watch?

Samsung Malaysia’s Solve For Tomorrow livestream will take place on 23 August 2022 from 10:30AM to 11:00AM. Be sure to tune in to our 30-minute livestream via Samsung Malaysia Newsroom or Samsung Malaysia Youtube Page.

For further information on Solve for Tomorrow, please visit here.

After months of research, dedication and hard work, the five finalists presented their ideas and prototypes through a virtual presentation to a panel of esteemed judges comprising of experts from Samsung Malaysia and professors from Universiti Malaya. Their creativity and innovative solutions in tackling issues in the areas of ‘Environmental Sustainability’ and ‘Access to Education’ strengthened their knowledge and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while helping the Malaysian community at large.

Dato’ Roh Jae Yeol, Director of Corporate Affairs, Samsung Malaysia Electronics said, “We are impressed with the unique and highly innovative ideation and execution by the participants of the competition this year. These high-achieving, exceptional young students have developed solutions to real-life problems faced by our communities. Through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow, we aim to provide the younger generation with a solid platform to learn, grow and pursue a career in STEM.”

1st prize winners, Team ‘TAZ’ from St. Francis Institution, Malacca developed an educational app that connects Malaysian students who may leverage each other’s help to further their knowledge in a particular subject. The team is awarded Samsung products worth RM12,000 that will be presented to the school and each student will receive Samsung products worth RM6,000.

The 2nd prize went to Team ‘Fintech Semporna’ from MRSM Semporna, Sabah who identified the potential use of producing bioplastic materials from green seaweed. Team ‘Fintech Semporna’ is awarded Samsung products worth up to RM10,000 for their school, while each student will be given Samsung products worth up to RM5,000.

The 3rd prize was awarded to Team ‘Climate Crew’ from Kolej Genius Insan, Negeri Sembilan who developed a Recycling Tracking Application called “myPLANET” to encourage people to participate in the noble act of recycling. The team will receive Samsung products valued up to RM8,000 for their school and each student will receive Samsung products worth RM4,000 each

The teams in 4th place and 5th place are Team ‘The Inventors’ from SMK Rantau Panjang, Selangor and Team ‘Ardent Learners’ from SMK Seri Bintang Utara, Kuala Lumpur respectively. Each team will receive Samsung products worth RM6,600 as consolation prizes.

The winners were selected by a panel of jurors from Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya who assessed the projects based on feasibility of the idea, creativity and uniqueness of the solution, application of STEM knowledge and presentation skills. The judges included Dato’ Roh Jae Yeol, Director of Corporate Affairs, Samsung Malaysia Electronics; Ir. Dr Mas Sahidayana Mohktar, Head of Universiti Malaya STEM Centre; Professor Dr. Sithi Vinayakam A/L Muniandy, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, UM and Professor Dato’ Dr. Mazlin Mokhtar, Professor and Principal Fellow, Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The Winning Ideas of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow 2021 Competition

Team ‘TAZ’ – St. Francis Institution, Malacca

First place winners, Team ‘TAZ’ identified a means to connect Malaysian students in the country to find study buddies in the same areas of interest, learn about subjects through gamification and also explore ways to manage their time wisely.

This app makes use of existing technology for educational purposes. Students facing financial constraints and those struggling with their syllabus may use the app to facilitate access to learning materials. The team comprises of Tan Zhang Li, Adam Sim Kah Lock and Zachary Sim Kah Yao who were mentored by Mr. Naavish Nair from Samsung Malaysia Electronics and supervised by teacher, Puan Loh Ev Onne

Team Fintech Semporna – MRSM Semporna, Sabah

In second place, is Team Fintech Semporna from Sabah. They acknowledged the ever-prominent issue of plastic pollution in our oceans by coming up with a possible solution through the transformation of green seaweed (Kappaphycus sp) into a potential bioplastic that could be used as an alternative material for the manufacturing of everyday items such as straws, cups and bowls.

This idea was the collective effort of Mohammad Fahim Nazhan bin Mohammad Pauzi, Muhammad Fauzan bin Lakarani and Muhammad Fauzi bin Lakarani. Their mentor, Ms. Diane Gan of Samsung Malaysia Electronics and supervisor En. Mohammad Shahrul Hafiz bin Abdul Ghani also played a large role in guiding them.

Team ‘Climate Crew’ – Kolej Genius Insan, Negeri Sembilan

In third place, Team ‘Climate Crew’ developed a Recycling Tracking Application called “myPLANET” to encourage and motivate people to recycle used items effectively, reducing waste pile up. The innovative features in the app will not only bolster the rate of recycling but also make an impact on global warming in the long run. The “myPLANET” app is free of charge and will include a neat design interface making it user-friendly. Users will also be able to redeem “green points” from other shopping platforms.

Through STEM-based solutions, the app indicates the nearest recycling centre closest to the user and upon scanning a QR code, users may redeem “green points”. Users may track the progress of their recyclables, view their end product upon recycling and also understand how much greenhouse gas has been saved.   The team comprising of Yahaya bin Basiron, Anis Batrisyia binti Ja’afar and Muhammad Amirul Firdaus bin Muhammad Ariff were guided by their mentor, Mr. Sanjeef Kumar Subramaniam from Universiti Malaya and supervised by Dr Liyana Amalina binti Adnan.

Team ‘The Inventors’ – SMK Rantau Panjang, Selangor

Coming in fourth, Team ‘The Inventors’ targeted the 12th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Responsible Consumption and Production. The team invented a biodegradable pot made of banana pseudostem, banana peel, chicken faeces and lemongrass that can be used by home gardeners, plant nurseries and agro entrepreneurs. This is an excellent alternative to plastic and other non-degradable materials used in making pots.

‘The Inventors’ comprised of Nur Afrina Najla, Naylie Adriana and Fatin Amni, who were mentored by Ms. Aisyah Maisarah binti Abd Razak of University Malaya while being overseen by teacher, Puan Rabaitul Adawiyah Binti Suep.

Team Ardent Learners – SMK Seri Bintang Utara, Kuala Lumpur

Fifth place was awarded to Team Ardent Learners of SMK Seri Bintang Utara, Kuala Lumpur for developing the Paper and Cardboard Recycler, a portable recycling device that converts old paper and cardboard materials into a new paper that households can reuse whilst also still being eco-friendly through the power of solar energy. The team comprising of Chuah Yee Jia, Saniyyah binti Shah Jahan and Raja Aisha binti Raja Azlan were guided by their mentor, Ms. Lee Shen Ni of University Malaya and teacher, Madam Lee Saw Im.

With support from Universiti Malaya STEM Centre, Samsung Malaysia’s Solve for Tomorrow 2021 competition strived to enhance STEM knowledge amongst Malaysian youth by sparking interest in innovation and creativity. Students were challenged to identify real-life problems and develop high-impact solutions to tackle them, making STEM more engaging and fun in the process.

“The younger generation are dealing and adapting to constantly evolving technology that is shaping the world we live in today. Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition aids in strengthening students’ STEM knowledge, while encouraging them to think out-of-the-box, learn about real-world problems and find a solution, ultimately making the environment a better place for all. The standard of submissions from the teams shows their level of dedication and passion. I am certain that Solve for Tomorrow will continue to inspire young minds and nurture our STEM leaders of tomorrow,” said Ir. Dr Mas Sahidayana Mohktar, Head of Universiti Malaya STEM Centre.

For more information about Solve for Tomorrow, please visit:

https://www.samsung.com/my/solvefortomorrow/

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow acts as a platform to encourage and inspire secondary school (Form 1 & Form 2) students to solve local issues by building a prototype using Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the areas of Environmental Sustainability and Access to Education.

Studies have repeatedly reported that STEM subjects and careers are perceived as male dominant, and scientists as predominantly male. Women’s lack of participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is well documented. However, the number of female participants in Solve for Tomorrow 2021 outweighed male representation by 73% of the participants being female, proving that girls and women are the future of STEM.

The Malaysian government recognizes the need to capitalize on female participation in the areas of STEM to promote its economic and national development. The country intends to keep raising the proportions of women who participate in STEM and other arenas. In line with this, Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow is creating a supportive ecosystem to empower women to enter and develop successful careers in STEM industries. The platform provides them with enhanced networking activities and encourages them towards undertaking careers in STEM.

The competition recently announced the top 10 semi-finalists, the teams of which are from schools located in Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and WP Kuala Lumpur. The judging committee for the competition is thrilled with the standard of submissions and quality of projects, exceeding all expectations. Some thought-provoking projects include solar-powered bins containing a sensor to prevent the bin from overflowing, and an app that allows students to connect with others from the same field of interest to further develop their knowledge and skills in that respective subject.

Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya’s STEM Centre is pleased with the response it has received through the course of Solve for Tomorrow 2021 and wishes to continue inspiring young minds through STEM.

For more information about Solve for Tomorrow, please visit: www.samsung.com/my/solvefortomorrow/

Science and technology have made our lives easier and more convenient thanks to the addition of various innovative products and services into our daily routines. But the downside of these additions has been the development of serious global environmental challenges including climate change and resource depletion – issues that threaten the future of our world.

In order to help mitigate these issues, Samsung Electronics strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything we do. Let’s take a look at how Samsung’s eco-conscious product innovation and consumer engagement come together to help us all achieve a sustainable future.

Senior Vice President Hyeongnam Kim, Head of Global CS Center, Samsung Electronics

Minimizing the Environmental Impact of a Product’s Entire Life Cycle

Based on the principle of product stewardship, our products are thoughtfully designed to minimize their impact on the environment. Samsung is deeply engaged in activities to minimize the environmental impact of its products throughout their entire life cycle – from development and manufacturing to distribution and usage through to after-sales service and recycling.

Firstly, Samsung incorporates environmental concerns into its product development process. To this end, the company has introduced an Eco-Design Process to evaluate its products against eco-conscious standards across different countries, including the U.S. and Korea. In 2008, the company established a company-wide eco-committee and division-level task forces to step up its efforts in developing eco-conscious products. To this day, Samsung is committed to developing innovative, high-performing products that have minimal impact on the environment.

Samsung’s emphasis on sustainability continues into the manufacturing stage. The company has been expanding its usage of renewable energy sources such as solar and geothermal heat in its facilities and is also incorporating the use of recycled water and waste. As a representative example, Samsung has also made strides in sustainability by sourcing 100% renewable electricity for all its facilities in the U.S., Europe and China last year. What’s more, Samsung plans to expand the usage of renewable energy to the rest of its facilities around the world following the development of local systems and infrastructure in each region.

Moving on to the distribution stage, Samsung has replaced its plastic and shrink wrap with packaging made of renewable biomaterials in order to reduce packaging waste. The company also now holds its paper suppliers to requiring a Forest Stewardship certification, and following these efforts, managed to completely replace all the paper used in the manuals and packaging for its mobile and consumer electronics products at the end of 2020.

Samsung helps users decrease their electricity consumption during the usage stage of a product’s lifecycle by providing them with energy-efficient products – thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the company is making continuous efforts towards developing durable products and a quick and easy repair process, since if consumers use their products for longer, they are then making a difference by reducing their environmental impact.

Going through to the final stage of a product’s lifecycle, disposal, Samsung is continuing to pioneer its waste collection and recycling programs around the globe, currently operating in 55 different countries. Users can in the U.S., for example, can drop off their end-of-life mobile devices at any of over 500 uBreakiFix locations, an independent repair chain. The company is also currently planning to expand its closed-loop recycling system in order to recover and reuse more iron, copper and plastics from e-waste.

Reducing 301 Million Tons of Greenhouse Gas Through Initiative and Innovation

Thanks to its product stewardship practices, Samsung has reduced the average energy consumption per unit of a product by 32%,¹ equivalent to the cumulative reduction of 301 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the past 12 years since 2009. The company has also recycled over 4.54 million tons of e-waste through its global e-waste collection sites from 2009 to 2020.

To encourage customers to use their products for longer as part of a circular economy, Samsung has established a quick and easy repair process for users, through which the company supplies product repair information and parts to contracted repair shops as well as independent repair stores.

Upholding User Values Through Eco-Conscious Upcycling

Going beyond employing eco-conscious practices solely in the development of its products, Samsung has been making various efforts to reduce the use of resources across all of its supply lines in order to promote more sustainable consumption.

Last year, Samsung introduced its revolutionary Eco-Packaging for its TV products made from cardboard boxes in an effort to encourage upcycling and creativity in users, as they can form animal toys or small furniture pieces using their discarded packaging.

In addition, Samsung has also recently launched its Galaxy Upcycling at Home program, which enables users to harness their unused Galaxy smartphones as IoT devices, in Korea, the U.S. and U.K. The program also repurposes older smartphones into medical diagnosis cameras, helping to address vision impairment cases that are preventable with proper diagnosis.

We at Samsung are dedicated to creating a sustainable future that provides a better life for all by introducing creative eco-conscious products and solutions across all of our business areas. With a focus on sustainable management, we are putting carbon reduction, resource circulation and ecosystem restoration at the forefront of our efforts to protect the environment.

¹ Figure from 2020 compared with 2008 level of energy consumption.

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced that it received the industry’s first Triple Standard for carbon, water and waste by Carbon Trust.

Samsung was awarded this certification by reducing the amount of carbon emissions, water use, and waste discharge over the past three years at five operations (Giheung, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Onyang and Cheonan) in Korea and four global manufacturing sites in U.S. and China (Austin, Suzhou, Tianjin and Xi’an). This is a huge feat, considering that it is extremely challenging for semiconductor manufacturing companies to meet all three qualifications at once.

“For decades, Samsung has been striving to incorporate environmental sustainability into every aspect of the semiconductor manufacturing process,” said Seong-dai Jang, senior vice president and head of DS Corporate Sustainability Management Office at Samsung Electronics. “We’ll continue to pursue more environmentally sustainable policies across the entire production and supply chain.”

Samsung has been making various efforts in carbon reduction, water resource conservation and recycling, and has been managing these as important sustainability goals.

Samsung’s Efforts to Reduce Its Environmental Footprint

• Greenhouse Gas: Samsung has been sourcing 100-percent renewable energy for its overseas semiconductor operations in the United States and China since 2019, and the company’s continued efforts to reduce its carbon footprint also includes optimizing gas use for etching and deposition processes, as well as developing new catalysts for its greenhouse gas reduction equipment. Through these endeavors, Samsung was able to cut about 1.3-million tons¹ of carbon emissions in 2020—about 200 million pine trees would be required to absorb the same amount of carbon.²

• Water Management: Samsung has been recycling wastewater generated in the process of producing ultra-pure water for equipment such as wet scrubbers and cooling towers. The company has also reduced water usage utilizing its wastewater filtration technology—known as the ‘membrane process’ —to reuse water and optimize manufacturing processes. Equipment operation efficiency has also increased by consolidating wastewater reclamation and reuse systems. As a result, Samsung was able to reuse about 70 million tons of water in 2020, a 12-percent increase compared to 2018~2019, and reduce more than 10 million tons of water usage,³ which is the same amount used for two-million people per month in a metropolitan area in Korea.⁴

• Waste Discharge: Samsung has significantly reduced wastewater sludge,⁵ which accounts for more than 60-percent of total waste generation, by applying alternative materials and optimizing the amount of materials supplied to particular facilities. In addition, by establishing packaging standards for products brought into the line, the amount of waste from over-packaging has also been reduced. Through all these efforts, Samsung reduced a total of 35,752 tons⁶ of waste discharged in 2020.

Samsung Electronics strives to incorporate environmental sustainability into everything it does. Samsung’s products are thoughtfully designed to minimize the impact on the environment during their entire lifecycle – from planning and manufacturing to consumption and recycling.

¹ The amounts stated are converted measurements based on production levels

² A 30-year-old pine tree can absorb about 6.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year (Korea Institute of Forest Science)

³ The amounts stated are converted measurements based on production levels

⁴ Korea Ministry of Environment (2019)

⁵ Wastewater sludge is a by-product generated in the treatment process of industrial wastewater or sewage.

⁶ The amounts stated are converted measurements based on production levels

Samsung optimizes costs and promotes synergy to ensure economic sustainability, mandates adherence to international regulations and transparency for social sustainability, and insists on only working with certified Eco-Partners the world over. The company works relentlessly to help its suppliers achieve growth according to the belief that Samsung’s success is rooted in the competitiveness of its suppliers at every level.

Selection of Suppliers

Samsung evaluates prospective suppliers based on criteria that include EHS (environment, health and safety), labor and human rights, and Eco-Partner standing. After a company passes the initial screening, in-house experts in each category are deployed to conduct on-site assessments of the prospective supplier. Companies are required to comply with regulations regarding the handling of chemicals of concern, bans on discrimination and inhumane treatment and social and environmental impact, among others.

An open-sourcing program is used to allow companies to apply to become Samsung suppliers. The International Procurement Center (IPC) and Global Supplier Relationship Management System (G-SRM) accept submissions from organizations that want to propose use of their components or materials for Samsung products. Samsung’s IPCs are additionally present in strategically significant locations all over the world to monitor regional technology trends and identify potential suppliers. These methods allow Samsung to ensure that its supply chain remains competitive, as well as sustainable.

Once new suppliers are brought on-board, Samsung looks to heighten transparency by disclosing its list of suppliers with their consent. From there, procurement operations are managed by an integrated procurement system. The company requires suppliers to adhere to the Samsung Supplier Code of Conduct, which ensures that they operate in accordance with local laws and regulations, while helping them maintain responsible management of their working environments.

Supplier Evaluation

Samsung performs in-depth supplier evaluations annually. During these evaluations, suppliers’ competitiveness and ability to maintain sustainability are measured using eight evaluation criteria: technology, quality, responsiveness, delivery, cost, EHS, finance, and law. Several methods are employed in the evaluation of suppliers, including on-site inspection and the review of previously uploaded data. Evaluations are carried out on an ongoing basis throughout the year, allowing suppliers to monitor their performance along the way. In 2018 Samsung evaluated 91% of its total suppliers, with those who had been registered with the company for less than a year excluded from evaluation. The company also requires all primary suppliers to complete annual self-assessments according to 85 criteria set out by the RBA (Responsible Business Alliance), of which Samsung is a member.

Comprehensive Evaluation Items

Samsung also conducts both on-site and third-party audits of its suppliers. On-site audits are led by RBA auditors, and conducted by dedicated teams who interview suppliers’ employees and examine their workplaces. After the audit is carried out, Samsung devises final improvement tasks, which are expected to be completed within 30 days. Applying the same criteria as the RBA, Samsung achieved a compliance rate of 91% for on-site audits in 2018, and the company is making further efforts to continue lifting that number. Also in 2018, Samsung drastically increased the number of third-party supplier audits, especially in the Southeast Asian region, where some concerns around working environments had been raised. Despite the significant increase in the number of third party audits in 2018, compliance rates were relatively consistent with those from 2017, implying that efforts to improve suppliers’ working environments had been successful.

Samsung charges first-tier suppliers with the evaluation of their relevant sub-suppliers, making them responsible for evaluating working conditions and ensuring compliance. Samsung has developed and distributed a safe management guidance to first-tier suppliers that assists them in evaluating the environmental and health and safety performance of lower-tier suppliers. First-tier suppliers are held accountable for ensuring a safe working environment at lower-tier suppliers and honestly reflecting the outcome of evaluations.

Strengthening Competitiveness^*

Samsung prioritizes improving the market competitiveness of its suppliers at all levels to create a healthy, sustainable corporate ecosystem.

Samsung seeks to strengthen the training and hiring capabilities of its first, second and third-tier suppliers by providing programs in leadership, global, R&D, procurement, sales, and business innovation. Furthermore, the company holds annual job fairs to help ensure that suppliers are able to secure top talent.

Samsung also runs funding programs to support suppliers that are experiencing financial difficulties. These include low-interest loans, as well as support funds that provide zero-interest loans to allow companies to make cash payments to sub-suppliers within a 30-day window.

Samsung also supports the competitive enhancement of its suppliers. To ensure that its suppliers remain innovative, the company offers worksite consulting, product stabilization and EHS consultation to its first, second and third-tier suppliers, as well as enterprises that it has not previously worked with. The company also runs programs that get suppliers acquainted with the newest technology trends to ensure that they remain up to date.

Finally, Samsung offers its suppliers sales channel support. The company helps identify new avenues for potential sales, and provides things like PR work, international marketing campaigns and information sessions for enterprises that want to sell their products through online retailers.

Recent Efforts

Since 2018 Samsung has been providing training sessions for Vietnamese industry experts under its Vietnamese Industrial Consultant Training Program. Participants include consultants, public officials and professors, and the goal of the program is to help nurture local human resources in the technology sector and lift the rate of production for locally produced components. The program offers two tiers of training – local consultant and master consultant – and is aiming to train 200 local and 60 master consultants by 2020.

In 2015 Samsung launched the Smart Factory Construction program, which aimed to share technological expertise regarding the establishment of smart factories with Korean SMEs. Smart factories can improve production efficiency, reduce costs and minimize environmental impact and workplace risks. 1,086 small and medium-sized enterprises took part in the smart factory program between 2015 and 2017 and saw a 54% increase in quality and a 58% increase in productivity.  Samsung is planning to reach out to 2,500 further SMEs in Korea between 2018 and 2022, with the focus of the expanded project being on sustainable growth in the era of industry 4.0.

Recently, Samsung investigated the working environments of migrant workers at its first-tier suppliers in Malaysia. Migrant workers remain a vulnerable demographic, and Samsung demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that they are treated fairly with its 2019 Ethical Recruitment and Fair Labor Practice Training Session, held in conjunction with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The training drew around 80 managers from Samsung’s Malaysian supply chain, and covered issues such as ethical recruitment, due diligence, and how to identify and combat unethical employment practices.

Samsung has developed its Responsible Sourcing of Minerals policy in order to ensure the ethical sourcing of minerals throughout its supply chain. The company takes the issues of environmental deterioration and human rights violations in conflict areas in 10 African countries seriously, and has banned the use of minerals that are mined illegally in conflict regions. In order to help address unethical mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo specifically, Samsung Electronics has started the Cobalt for Development program in partnership with other multinational companies. This program aims to improve the labor conditions and the living environments at specific cobalt mines in the country.

^*Samsung’s supplier support initiatives vary from market to market