Global electronics
giant, Samsung has been awarded the international energy standard, ISO 50001
certification, for all its foreign and domestic business sites as a result of
its commitment to energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions across its entire business by 57 percent since 2008.
The ISO 50001 is an
international-certified energy management system that stipulates processes and
procedures for energy reduction in planning, execution and operation.
Samsung Electronics’
site in Gumi was the first to receive the certification in July 2011 and later
in July 2012 all six business sites in Korea had been awarded. That was two
years after introducing the standard which was established in June 2011 by the
International Organisation for Standardisation.
Speaking on the new
achievement, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung
South Africa, Michelle Potgieter in a statement released by the company said,
“The ISO 50001 certification is a testament to our commitment to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions across the company. We are especially proud that
Samsung South Africa is also contributing to energy reduction, both in its
internal and external environment.”
In 2012, Samsung SA
was the first South African Consumer Electronics brand to have taken the 49M
pledge which commits the organisation to energy efficiency through its product
line and the environment in which it operates. This initiative aligns the brand
to a government endorsed programme that aims to encourage a national culture of
energy saving.
The recently
introduced Samsung Digital Village, the first of its kind in Africa , is a
complete solar digital offering which supports the drive to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions across the business.
By capitalising on
the sun’s energy, this solution has been developed for both rural villages
without power and urban neighbourhoods that are subjected to fluctuating
electricity supply.
This unique offering
includes a complete education system infrastructure, power generation for small
business enablement, a tele-medical centre for quick and accurate diagnoses, a
health centre and basic lighting solution all developed to reduce the reliance
on electricity.
Potgieter promised
that Samsung will “continue to lead the way for energy management and plans to
further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by systematically identifying and
addressing factors that result in energy waste, utilise renewable and
environmentally friendly resource and continue to implement policies that
ensure that a low-carbon footprint is not only maintained, but reduced.”
Meanwhile, the Korean
electronics said it will be partnering with Miss Earth South Africa as the
brand ambassador for all its eco-friendly products, to educate South Africans
of the benefits of using green technologies and practices to save energy,
optimises water usage and contributes to a sustainable environment.
