Samsung Report Card

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The Talk: “All good things come to an end. Let's make sure it's a Green end.”
Grade C
The Walk: Samsung launched a nationwide, recycling program for TVs and other electronics on October 1, 2008.
About Samsung: Samsung is based in Korea and is the leading seller of TVs.

 

Category Possible Points Points Earned Details
Scope of US takeback recycling program 38 32  
Offers free convenient national takeback recycling for their branded TVs for individual consumers 25 19 There are 174 drop-off locations with at least one in every state with promises of drop-off events.
Offers free national takeback recycling for a larger scope of their branded products in addition to TVs 8 8 Covers TVs, DVD & VHS players, audio equipment, home theater systems, cameras, camcorders, computer monitors, printers & peripherals
Offers free national takeback recycling for other customers – not just individual consumers 3 3 No limits on the number of return items or types of consumers.
Offers to take products from other brands for free or a nominal charge 2 2  
Provides responsible recycling 37 9  
Signed Manufacturers Commitment to Responsible Electronics Recycling or other public commitment to not export to developing countries/use prison labor/landfill/incinerate toxic materials* 15
5
“[Samsung] is working directly with leading e-waste recyclers who do not incinerate, send to solid waste landfill, or export toxic waste (defined in a manner consistent with the commonly accepted definition of hazardous electronic waste) to developing countries.”   There is no mention as to whether prison labor is allowed or not.
Publishes full recycling standards on company website 5 0  
Use only E-Stewards as recyclers 5 0  
Discloses recycling and refurbishing vendors on company website 5 4 The SAMSUNG RECYCLING DIRECT website lists its partners. “We meticulously selected partners who mirror our own environmental philosophy."
Discloses countries where final disposal/recycling of toxic materials occurs 7 0
  
Volumes and visibility 15 4  
Has ambitious collection and recycling goals expressed as a percent of sales or other measures
 2 0  
Significant volume of e-waste collected and recycled nationally and publicly reported as a percent of sales or other measure 10
 1 1.7 million pounds total as of 10/1/08, but not clear if that is for 2008 for a longer time and what percent that is of sales
Easy to find recycling information on company website 3 3 Info about Samsung Recycling Direct is clearly visible on Samsung’s home page
Public policy
 10 1  
Statement of support and active work in support of producer takeback recycling legislation with performance goals for manufacturers at the state level 5 1 Samsung has a global policy statement on producer takeback but has not been actively promoting state legislation with goals.  
Statement of support and active work on federal legislation to ban the export of toxic electronic waste to developing nations 5 0  No statement
  Total Possible
Total Earned
 
TOTAL SCORE
100
46
  C

http://pages.samsung.com/us/recyclingdirect/pdf/TBRRelease_09032008.pdf
http://pages.samsung.com/us/recyclingdirect/partners.html