Michał Stekla
Have you ever wondered what happens to the waste in factories where modern screens for televisions and smartphones are produced? Samsung Display has just announced that all its facilities – both in South Korea and abroad – have received the highest (platinum) rating of "Zero Waste to Landfill". What does this mean in practice?
“Zero Waste to Landfill” is an initiative aimed at maximising the reduction of waste going to landfill sites. In other words, companies want to recycle almost everything they would usually throw away. The certification comes from UL Solutions, an organisation that verifies what percentage of waste is being recycled. The scale is as follows:
Silver: 89.5–94.4% recycling
Gold: 94.5–99.4% recycling
Platinum: 99.5–100% recycling
Samsung Display boasts the highest, platinum level for all eight of its campuses (four in Korea and four outside its borders).
According to the company's statement, the amount of waste has fallen from around 190,000 tonnes in 2021 to 150,000 tonnes in 2023. Additionally, even those 150,000 tonnes are being recycled at least 99.5%. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? However, it must be admitted that in the official statement there is a lot of corporate boasting. This does not change the fact that reducing waste and processing it is good news for the environment.
Here is a brief summary of the data:
Category | Results/Description |
|---|---|
Recycling Rate | Platinum (99.5–100% of waste is processed) |
Plants in Korea | Asan1, Asan2, Cheonan, Giheung |
Overseas Plants | China (Dongguan, Tianjin), India (Noida), Vietnam (SDV) |
Waste Amount (2021) | About 190,000 tonnes |
Waste Amount (2023) | About 150,000 tonnes (a decrease of over 20%) |
Recycling Examples | PVC from production lines reused, glass processed into glass fibre or paving stones |
Does it matter to the "ordinary" viewer?
Definitely yes! Although many elements of this message resemble typical corporate PR, it is important that key electronic equipment manufacturers are starting to care about the environment. Less waste means lower consumption of raw materials and potentially a cleaner planet.
Ultimately, it is worth appreciating efforts in recycling, even if the company is clearly proud of it. Hopefully, similar steps will be taken by other enterprises, and we as consumers will benefit from more eco-friendly devices. After all, each of us uses electronics, and its production does not always have to be associated with huge piles of rubbish.
