Samsung scores 5 out of 18 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Samsung Info

Rank a Brand score:

5 out of 18
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Brand Owner: Samsung Group
Head Office: Seoul, South Korea
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Televisions, TV's, Computers, Notebooks, Audio, Video, (Mobile) Phones, Cameras, Camcorders, Home Appliances
Free Tags: GSM, Laptop, Desktop, PC, Netbook, Refrigerator, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine, Air Conditioner

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Last Updated: 14 July 2011
Last Verified: 14 July 2011

Samsung Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 5


1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020?	Samsung supports global mandatory cuts of Greenhouse Gas emissions of at least 50% by 2050 (see Climate Change Policy and goals).	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	Samsung discloses Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions on owned factories (Korea and overseas) and own operations (see page 78).	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	No target of 20% by 2012 was identified in Samsung's 2010 sustainability report.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	Since 2006, Samsung has increased its GHG emissions from 8,068 to 9,910 (1,000 tons of CO2) (see p. 78 of the 2010 Sustainability Report).	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?	Samsung in its 2010 report states that it is taking actions to meet strict Energy Star guidelines for its entire product lineup. Thus implying that there are some products that are yet to meet these requirements. However, they have met quite a number of the Energy Star requirements since they were awarded the Partner of the Year award (see p.43).	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 7


1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Samsung mentions that it has eliminated PVC and BFRs from all new mobile phones and MP3 players but it is unclear whether it has indeed eliminated PVC and BFRs from all its new products. Samsung has a phase out plan available on its website which begins on 30 June 2010 but provides no end date.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?	PVC and BFRs have been eliminated from some products but its unclear what portion of their total products this represents.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Samsung has committed to removing Beryllium from all products by 2013. While Samsung is progressively eliminating products that contain antimony and phthalates it still continues to use these substances in its manufacturing processes.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products?	Beryllium, antimony and phthalates are still used (see remark previous question).	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling?	Samsung supports Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR).	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold?	Samsung offers recycling and take back services. Directives such as the EU's WEEE (discussed in the Rank a Brand Manual). Furthermore they provide information for recycling processes in the US, Korea and Japan, however no recycling information is provided for other countries in which Samsung's products are sold.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025?	Samsung gives evidence of numerous recycling initiatives it undertakes(see pp.48-49). However, it's unclear whether it sources at least 5% of its plastics requirement from recycled sources. Samsung plans to increase its recycling and reuse initiatives but it is unclear how this reflects on its sourcing from recycled plastic streams.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 out of 6


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Samsung is a member of the EICC and has adopted the EICC Code of Conduct (CoC). For EICC CoC, see link questions 2&3 below. In the EICC CoC all standards are mentioned (see page 2-4).	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	In the EICC CoC: 1. Not mentioned; 2. No, maximum working week is 60 hours (including overtime), 'except in emergency cases and unusual situations', which can mean anything; 3. No, mentioning of minimum wage, not living wage (see page 2).	SOURCE
3. Does this CoC include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	In the EICC Code: Freedom of association is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 3).	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Samsung doesn't provide a list of individual suppliers on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	Samsung is a member of the EICC (see page 14 of report).	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Samsung does discuss labour conditions in its annual Sustainability report however the majority of the information is only general (see pages 30 and 31). Only discrimination is directly referenced in the report (see page 30).	SOURCE