LG Electronics said Sunday that it is aiming to make a complete transition to renewable energy by 2050, in addition to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
By Kim Bo-eun
This decision is in accordance with policies of governments around the world to regulate carbon emissions and prompt corporations to make the shift to eco-friendly energy, the company said.
The transition will be made on a gradual basis, starting with the energy consumed by its U.S. subsidiary in production, logistics and in its offices being switched to 100-percent renewable energy by the end of this year.
LG will have its overseas plants make a complete transition to renewable energy by 2025. This transition in the firm’s overseas plants will account for 50 percent of the total amount of energy that needs to undergo an eco-friendly transition. LG Electronics is aiming to achieve a 60-percent transition to reusable energy at its local operations by 2030 and a 90-percent transition by 2040.
The switch will be made via multiple methods including setting up high-efficiency solar panels, purchasing renewable energy certificates and entering power purchase agreements.
LG Electronics’ plant in Noida, India, has set up a 3.2-megawatt solar power generator. The energy used at this plant is generated entirely from such equipment.
“We will do our best to ensure everyone can lead a better life by pushing forward with various initiatives, such as making the transition to renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality, so that we can exert a greater positive influence on the environment for a sustainable future,” LG Electronics’ Head of Environment Safety Park Pyung-gu said.
LG’s main electronics-making unit pledged in May 2019 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the company is set to cut carbon emissions across its global production sites from the nearly 2 million tons it recorded in 2017.
LG is utilizing its own business-to-business technology solutions, such as high-efficiency chillers and energy management systems (EMS) to reduce carbon emissions.
Last month, LG Electronics received the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2021 Leadership Award for its North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The $300-million project attained the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum New Construction certification, the highest-level rating distinguishing buildings that promote employee well-being, are energy- and water-efficient, and preserve open space and ecosystems.
LG teams in Europe are working with local organizations to achieve the company’s net-zero goal. In Portugal, LG has partnered with the European Recycling Platform (ERP) to combat electronic waste, which amounts to 53.6 million metric tons globally. The entities hosted an innovation challenge, via which participants came up with ideas to recycle e-waste.
In 2018, LG Spain launched the LG Smart Green project to contribute to the country’s reforestation efforts. The project is ongoing, and LG is demonstrating its advanced solar technology, fulfilling energy requirements at local high-tech firms. LG Spain partnered with CyG IT Sustainable Tech, a local company pioneering the use of AI and Big Data in the maintenance and repair of electrical devices, to create the first carbon neutral tech lab in southern Europe.
In France, LG joined hands with L’Arbre Vert, a local brand offering eco-certified, allergy-friendly laundry detergent. On LG’s part, it is offering washing machines that are designed to use less water and electricity.
LG is seeking to tackle the stereotype that electronics manufacturers are causing the world’s environmental problems by creating solutions, through developing products and employing production processes that minimize damage to the environment.
Originally published at The korea times