Samsung is the biggest memory chip manufacturer, and it is counted among the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world. Now, all semiconductor manufacturing facilities of the company have received the Zero Waste to Landfill certification with the Gold classification or above from UL (Underwriters Laboratories). This validation shows that the company's facilities are environmentally friendly.
The company's global semiconductor manufacturing sites in China, South Korea, and the US meet the requirement of more than 95-percent waste diversion through methods that do not involve thermal processing. The Samsung DSR building in Hwaseong, Korea, has received the Platinum classification with 100-percent waste diversion. This is where most of the company's local semiconductor R&D staff live.
The South Korean chip giant's semiconductor plant in Austin, Texas, in the US, was the first one to receive UL's Zero Waste to Landfill certification. It won the validation in January. Later, five facilities in South Korea (Cheonan, Giheung, Hwaseong, Onyang, and Pyeongtaek) and two facilities in China (Suzhou and Xi'an) were granted environmental certifications.
Underwriters Laboratories is a third-party industry testing and certification organization. It designed the Zero Waste to Landfill validation program to minimize the environmental footprint of industries by shifting waste management methods from thermal processing or landfill disposal to safer methods like recycling and reusing. It also includes employee awareness and waste reduction campaigns.
Chanhoon Park, Executive Vice President of Global Infrastructure Technology, Samsung Electronics, said, “The Zero Waste to Landfill Gold validation is a testament to the care and effort by our employees around the world to protect the environment. Eco-friendly operations are now a must for any business, and we will continue to ensure sustainable growth that is mindful of the environment that we live and operate in.”
Samsung's semiconductor manufacturing facilities getting reviewed and certified by UL is an achievement. The milestone shows the company's commitment to the environment and the health of its 60,000 employees across its eight chip production sites. UL has also certified Samsung's batteries, smartphones, smartphone displays, and TVs for greater efficiency, environmental friendliness, and safety in the past.
