Greenpeace USA has released its latest Guide to Greener Electronics and it's not impressed with Samsung's eco-friendliness initiatives. The global non-profit has ranked Samsung in the bottom tier for its eco-friendliness.
Greenpeace has scored 17 of the world's largest technology companies based on their transparency, performance and advocacy efforts. The companies are scored on their use of recycled materials, reduction of emissions through renewable energy and elimination of hazardous chemicals.
Greenpeace And Samsung
The global non-profit and Samsung actually have some history. A Greenpeace activist protested the environmental impact of the Galaxy Note 7 recall during Samsung's MWC 2017 press conference.
Samsung is included in the eleven companies that have been ranked in the bottom tier, it scored a “D-” for its overall grade. Greenpeace says that even though it's the largest manufacturer of smartphones and the largest supplier of displays, Samsung's manufacturing system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
The company reportedly used over 16,000 GWh of energy last year and just 1 percent of it was accounted for by renewable sources. Emissions have reportedly increased by 24 percent since 2014 and are expected to increase an additional 15 percent by the end of this year.
Greenpeace is calling on the companies to shift their supply chains to renewable energy, reduce the cycle of constant consumption of more minerals and find alternatives to hazardous chemicals.
Samsung has been doing its part to become more eco-friendly, though. Its efforts were recently recognized as it was awarded a top-level environment certificate in the United States.