지구를 위협한 갤럭시의 4년

2018년 6월 삼성전자는 주요 글로벌 사업장의 사용 전력을 100% 재생에너지로 전환하겠다고 선언하며 친환경 기업의 이미지를 대대적으로 홍보했습니다. 실제로 미주, 유럽, 중국 등의 사업장은 약속한대로 100% 재생에너지로 전환되었지만 이는 삼성전자 전체 사용 전력의 20%에 해당할 뿐, 전체 소비 전력의 80% 이상을 사용하는 한국과 베트남 사업장에서는 현재까지 재생에너지 확대 노력이 전무한 상황입니다. 이러한 상황에서 삼성전자의 온실가스 배출량은 계속 증가해왔고, 2020년에만 29,532톤의 탄소를 배출했습니다. 이는 노르웨이 국가 전체의 배출량과 맞먹는 양입니다. 

화석연료 발전 비중이 높은 한국에서, 삼성전자는 전력다소비기업 1위의 자리를 굳건히 지키고 있습니다. 탈석탄에 소극적인 국영 발전사들을 우회하여 재생에너지 발전사로부터 직접 전력을 구매하고 싶다는 의사는 밝힌 바 있지만 실제로는 이와 관련된 구매시장에 참여한 적도 없고, 언제 어떻게 할 것인지에 대한 계획도 아직 발표하지 않았습니다. 화석연료 에너지의 의존도를 줄일 능력과 자원이 충분한 글로벌 기업임에도 불구하고, 4년 전의 선언 이후 삼성전자가 한 일은 “지구를 위한 갤럭시”라는 캐치프레이즈를 생각해낸 게 전부입니다. 이는 그린워싱이 아닐 수 없습니다.

첫째도 기후, 둘째도 기후, 셋째도 기후입니다

따라서 올해 6월 14일은 삼성의 그린워싱 4주년을 “축하”해야 합니다. 2주 간의 유럽 순방을 마친 이재용 삼성전자 부회장의 발언과 삼성전자의 행보를 보면, 어쩌면 5주년도 축하하게 될 것 같습니다. 세계 정세와 시장 상황을 직접 목도하고 온 그룹 총수의 첫 마디는 “첫째도 기술, 둘째도 기술, 셋째도 기술” 이었고, 바로 다음날 소집되었다는 삼성전자 사장단 ‘긴급회의’에서 8시간의 대장정 끝에 나온 결론은 “글로벌 기술 리더십을 확보하고 미래 시장을 개척하겠다”가 전부였습니다. 지금의 삼성전자에겐 기술도 중요하지만, 글로벌 기업으로서의 기후 리더십도 필요합니다. 구글, 애플, TSMC 등 글로벌 기업은 물론 SK, LG, 현대차 등 한국의 대기업들보다도 뒤처진 재생에너지 100% 전환 선언도 시급합니다. 삼성전자는 부회장님의 말씀 못지 않게, 전세계 앞의 기후위기에도 기민하게 대응해야 합니다.

2023년은 진정한 재생에너지 전환 1주년이 되어야 합니다

아시아에서 가장 큰 순이익을 내는 기업. D램과 OLED, 스마트폰 등 주요 전자제품 점유율 세계 1위 기업. 한국을 넘어 이미 글로벌 시장을 선도하는 기업. 이런 기업에게 소비자들이 기대하는 것이 “말만 앞세운 그린워싱”일까요? 지금의 삼성전자는 인류의 지속가능한 미래를 위해 기업의 사회적 책임을 다하고 있다고, 떳떳하게 말할 수 있습니까?

작년 우리는 COP26이 한창이던 영국 글래스고에 삼성오징어게임을 등장시켰고, 올해는 삼성전자의 전세계적인 그린워싱 4주년을 축하하고 있습니다. 그간 삼성전자가 재생에너지 전환에 대해 획기적인 선언을 하리란 보도가 이어졌지만 실제로는 아무 일도 일어나지 않았습니다. 갈 길은 멀고, 이미 다른 기업들은 진작 앞서가고 있습니다. 한국과 베트남을 포함한 진정한 재생에너지 100% 전환 선언을 통해 하루 빨리 한 발 나아가지 않는다면, 화려한 광고와 언론 홍보가 실질적 행동으로 이어지지 않는다면, 삼성전자는 글로벌 기술 리더가 아닌 기후위기에 무책임했던 글로벌 기업으로 남을 것입니다.

이재용 부회장님. 당신과 삼성전자의 새로운 한 마디를 기다립니다.

Samsung’s Sustainability Efforts and Promises: The Galaxy is Costing the Earth

Four years ago, in June 2018, Samsung Electronics, one of the tech giants, grabbed headlines by announcing that it would go 100% renewable energy. Indeed, its facilities in the U.S., Europe and China have achieved the goal as promised, but these countries account for only 20% of the Galaxy makers’ total electricity consumption. In contrast, Samsung’s efforts to expand renewable energy in its operations and supply chains in South Korea and Vietnam, which account for the remaining 80%, have been almost non-existent. 

Carbon Emissions of Samsung and Dreaming about becoming Carbon Neutral

Due to this lack of action, Samsung Electronics’ greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase. In 2020 alone, Samsung Electronics emitted 29,532 tonnes of carbon dioxide — a figure that puts the total greenhouse gas emissions of Samsung on par with the entire country of Norway. That isn’t good for the environment and the world.

Samsung – The Top Power Consuming Company

Within South Korea, Samsung continues to be the top power-consuming company on the fossil fuel-heavy state energy grid. Samsung, more than the other brands, undoubtedly has the resources to break away from this reliance on fossil energy and reportedly wants to be able to purchase power from independent renewable energy generators, bypassing state energy companies that have been reluctant to transition away from coal. Still, Samsung has yet to announce a short-term or long-term plan on how and when it will actually do this. 

Samsung’s Eco-friendly Products – Just Greenwashing

In diverting attention away from its inaction over the past four years, Samsung developed the catchphrase “Galaxy for the Planet.” This is nothing but greenwashing as they are still costing the Earth. 

Technology, Technology, Technology

This June 14th, we celebrated 4th Samsung Greenwashing Day, just like Earth day. Judging from the recent remarks by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jae-yong Lee after his 12-day trip to Europe, we might have to celebrate Samsung’s 5th anniversary next year. 

He underscored the importance of keeping up with cutting-edge technology, saying that the first, the second and the third priorities are all technology. After an 8-hour discussion at an ’emergency meeting’ of Samsung Electronics’ presidents held the very next day upon his arrival to Seoul, they concluded that they would  “secure global technology leadership and pioneer the future market.” 

Technology is understandably important to Samsung, but it remains unclear if by “technology leadership”, Samsung also means using technology that will make the transition to using 100% renewable energy globally possible. As a global company, Samsung must become a global climate leader. As it stands, Samsung has already fallen behind its peers, such as Google, Apple and TSMC, as well as Korean conglomerates, including SK, LG, and Hyundai, when it comes to decarbonisation.

2023 Should Mark the First Anniversary of a True Renewable Energy Transition

The largest net profit company in Asia. The world’s No. 1 company in the market share of major electronic products such as DRAM, OLED and smartphones. 

Is greenwashing what consumers expect from such a company? Can we really say that Samsung Electronics is fulfilling its responsibility for a sustainable future for humanity?

Last year, we showcased the Samsung Squid Game in Glasgow, England, while COP26 was in full swing, and this year we are celebrating the 4th anniversary of Samsung Electronics’ Greenwash Day. 

There have been reports that Samsung Electronics will make a groundbreaking declaration on the transition to renewable energy, but we, consumers and investors, are still waiting. Four years has been long enough; Samsung needs to live up to its promises and truly implement a plan to use 100% renewable energy globally — including in South Korea and Vietnam. If inaction continues, Samsung will become a global company known for turning a blind eye to the climate crisis rather than a global technology leader. 

Vice-Chairman Lee Jae-yong, we are waiting for you and Samsung Electronics to take real action.

Samsung, one of the largest technology companies in the world, is getting an increasing amount of bad press over its reliance on fossil fuels and its refusal to prioritise renewable energy alternatives like solar and wind to power its electricity-hungry manufacturing bases.

The tech giant claims it is on a ‘journey towards a sustainable future, but its rudderless fossil fuel-driven practices show otherwise. 

To achieve carbon neutrality, energy efficiency is the way forward.

Samsung Electronics is Korea Inc. 

Samsung Electronics not only represents Korea Inc. through its prominent role in the national economy and its huge global presence and global operations, but it also uses up an enormous amount of the country’s electricity to power its huge manufacturing hubs and supply chain.. According to Greenpeace, in 2019, Samsung Electronics’s electricity consumption was equivalent to the needs of more than 4 million South Korean households. Coal and gas largely meet the company’s total electricity consumption.

Rely on Renewable Energy Sources Instead of Fossil Fuels

Given that South Korea has the second largest coal power emissions per capita among the world’s major economies, Samsung customers would likely want to know why they rely on old, polluting technology and why not on renewable energy sources, which are good for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for climate change.

The recent Financial Times and Bloomberg coverage highlights how this serious emissions problem is not going unnoticed by its shareholders. The Netherlands-based pension fund, APG, is urging Samsung to step up and exert pressure on the South Korean government to expand the country’s renewable energy market, which has pitifully low amounts of solar and wind. The country’s solar and wind power only generate 4.7% of its electricity, less than half of the world’s average, and its neighbouring countries of China and Japan. Securing renewable energy sources should be a priority. 

Supercharging these two clean electricity sources is vital to saving the planet/ Along with battery storage, they must create the backbone of a modern electricity system, as the United Nations Secretary-General recently stressed.  

While Samsung Electronics uses more electricity than the entire country’s solar and wind sectors, it plays no positive role in helping to push its home country to go greener because it has no short or long term climate plan or renewable energy goals, as a shareholder recently pointed out in the FT.

Lee Jae-yong on Parole 

The de facto leader of Samsung is Lee Jae-yong, who has been released from prison following embezzlement and bribery charges. He remains highly influential in policy-maker circles. There has reportedly been an expectation among investors that on his release, he would seek to turn the company’s fortunes around and make new bold commitments on clean energy, but this has not materialised, and rival companies are stepping into this void. 

Laggard Status 

This lack of action on renewables is hard to understand as the company and country’s future depends on its ability to remain at the cutting edge of technology. 

The country already suffers under blankets of air pollution and will be increasingly affected by deadly heatwaves, like in 2018, which caused dozens of deaths. 

The world watches Samsung versus Apple in the global technology battle, which Samsung seems to be determined to lose. Since 2018, Apple claims it sources 100% renewable electricity, with its facilities procuring 90% of this directly from ‘Apple-created’ renewables projects. This is compared to Samsung, whose greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise.

Another rival, the Taiwanese semiconductor chipmaker TSMC has announced plans to power its operations on renewables, including offshore and onshore wind farms, showing how this manufacturing can be powered on clean energy. 

Out of Step 

Samsung remains out of step with its rivals, casting doubt over Lee Jae-yong’s leadership. While Samsung seems to be lost in its promised journey towards sustainability, we need to keep the pressure on. 

Samsung’s poor progress on clean energy was in the spotlight at COP26, the global climate summit held recently in Glasgow, Scotland.

We worked with protesters from Solutions for Our Climate to catch the attention of the world’s media with a parody of the hit show Squid Game and sent a clear message to company executives: give the green light to solar and wind power.

Watch the video from the US news program Inside Edition and share it widely.

You can also sign the petition to Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics Lee Jae-yong, demanding Samsung to switch to 100% renewable energy.

The protest drew attention from the media in South Korea including Hank Yung, Yonhap, and Hankyoreh. Getting coverage in Samsung’s home country will show how the company’s reputation abroad is at risk. Coverage is also featured on Reuters and the UK’s Independent.

When you think of Samsung, you may think of a choice between an Android or iPhone.

There’s another side to the giant company that involves making bigger life choices.

At COP26, along with South Korean partners, we took part in a Squid Game-themed action on Samsung to draw attention to how the company is being out-competed in the switch towards using clean energy technology to power its operations. As it stands, Samsung is still giving a green light to fossil fuels and a red light to renewables.

In August, Samsung Electronics’ billionaire Vice Chairman, Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung and grandson of its founder, was freed from jail where he had been serving a sentence for bribing the former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Lee was reportedly released early after pressure by Korean businesses to improve the waning fortunes of Samsung’s technology empire.

While Lee was serving time, along with a wide range of Korean and international partners, we were involved in a campaign to stop the company from making the wrong call on old coal technology with its construction and engineering arm, Samsung C&T. It was building polluting power stations in South Korea and abroad, while Samsung claimed to be an eco-friendly global leader in sustainability and smart tech.

Following this, Samsung was found guilty in the court of public opinion over building and financing coal plants, which are the single biggest source of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and can run for half a century. Moreover, analysis shows Samsung’s insurance units financed US$14 billion of fossil fuel projects in the last decade.

The court of public opinion and attendant brand damage was admitted by Samsung C&T to South Korea’s Parliament, a driving factor in a change in policy, though this also had loopholes.

This illustrates why we build popular pressure on big brands.

Now Lee Jae-yong is out on parole and looking to reinvigorate his company, his first move should be to ensure that all Samsung’s operations are run on renewable energy.

Samsung Electronics is a major emitter in South Korea. And given its previously funded coal projects also keep polluting, it comes as no surprise that its own shareholders are demanding that its worksites run on solar and wind power.

This undertaking has already been achieved in some regions. The company’s operations already run on renewable energy in China, Europe, and the US. And other global tech giants are already years ahead on this.

Samsung Electronics’ management should take the next logical step and ensure the company replaces fossil fuel-powered electricity with clean energy in South Korea and Vietnam. It will have a wide-ranging positive impact spanning the global tech sector, as well as Korean government energy policies.

South Korea and Vietnam are the two major production and manufacturing bases for Samsung. Having 100% renewables targets that don’t include these two countries undermines claims of sustainability.

Samsung is a symbol of Korea Inc. and if this giant global corporation fails to act, it will undermine progress on clean energy deployment.

Join us in calling on Samsung executives to give a red light to fossil fuels and a green light to renewables.