Better Health for All

Samsung Electronics has faced two Class 2 device recalls for its Digital Diagnostic Mobile X-ray Systems (GM85 and GM60A) in late 2023 and mid-2024.

Both recalls were due to a potential failure of the device arm, posing a risk of bodily harm, affecting a total of 292 devices. For risk transparency, Samsung's privacy policies for its healthcare services disclose data collection, usage, sharing, and security measures. The company also publicly disclosed the X-ray system recalls through the FDA, including the reason for the recall and corrective actions. However, the privacy policy for Samsung Healthcare USA states that security cannot be guaranteed. Regarding healthcare data responsibility, Samsung's Cloud for Healthcare service holds ISO/IEC 27799, 27001, and 27017 certifications, and implements 24/7 security control and real-time monitoring for medical data protection. Its privacy policies outline physical and technical safeguards for health data, but also state that complete security cannot be guaranteed, and data is transferred globally.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Samsung offers financial literacy programs through a partnership with Junior Achievement of New Jersey, where its employees teach the curriculum during bi-annual Days of Service.

The company also provides an internal "Cost & Financial Literacy" training program for its employees, which had 80 participants in 2024. However, the company's core business is not financial services, and the reach of its external financial literacy programs is not quantified beyond the existence of the partnership and employee participation.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In 2015, Samsung Electronics reported an overall employee turnover rate of 15.9% for its overseas operations, which constituted the majority of its workforce.

The company had no evidence of child labor cases at its suppliers in 2016 and maintains a zero-tolerance policy on child labor. Between 2025 and 2026, a human rights inspection was conducted at its smartphone manufacturing plants in Vietnam following concerns regarding alleged health, safety, and labor violations. In 2015, 2.1% of the total workforce were fixed-term employees, with the remaining 97.9% being permanent. The company provides a medical clinic with 93 sickbeds and 22 "mommy rooms" for pregnant employees, staffed with obstetrics and gynecology doctors.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Samsung conducts on-site audits annually for high-risk tier-1 suppliers, which represented 18.9% of all first-tier suppliers with manufacturing facilities in 2023.

Third-party audits are conducted every three years for the top 90% of first-tier suppliers based on annual transaction amounts. In 2024, 90 first-tier and 33 second-tier suppliers underwent third-party audits. The company has a zero-tolerance policy for child labor; special audits on 133 first-tier and 32 second-tier suppliers in 2024 found no child labor. For recruitment fees paid by migrant workers, suppliers must compensate the worker within 90 days. From 2017 to 2023, Samsung reimbursed $1,207,283 in recruitment fees to 1,896 migrant workers, with $14,838 USD reimbursed to 41 migrant workers in 2024. Samsung prohibits conflict minerals (tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold) and requires suppliers to use RMAP-certified smelters, achieving 100% RMAP certification for these minerals in 2024. However, RMAP certification rates for other responsible minerals like mica (12%), lithium (8%), copper (3%), nickel (16%), aluminum (0%), silver (2%), chromium (0%), and zinc (2%) are significantly lower. Samsung discloses the names and addresses of first-tier suppliers representing 80% of its transaction volume and lists smelters/refiners for 3TG and other minerals. The Supplier Code of Conduct, which includes ethical sourcing clauses, is included in standard supplier contracts, and suppliers are required to provide an annual pledge of compliance.

Honest & Fair Business

In the past three years, Samsung was ordered by India to pay $601 million in back taxes and penalties for allegedly dodging tariffs from 2018-2021, with seven executives facing fines totaling $81 million.

Additionally, in August 2023, the Republic of Korea Personal Information Protection Commission issued a penalty surcharge of KRW 875.6 million and a fine of KRW 2.4 million for a Privacy Act violation, and Gwangju City Hall imposed a KRW 2 million fine for violating the Clean Air Conservation Act. In March 2024, Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC (SAS) was fined $93,000 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Samsung Electronics has a Global Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy, last updated in June 2025, which applies worldwide to all directors, officers, employees, and third-party agents, maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and bribery. It prohibits offering or receiving anything of value for improper advantage, including facilitating payments, and requires thorough record-keeping. The company also has a whistleblower system that protects identities, prohibits retaliation, allows anonymous reporting, and offers workplace reassignment upon request. In 2023, there were 1,400 compliance whistleblowing cases and 892 corruption whistleblowing cases, with a corruption whistleblowing rate of 16%. Audited financial statements are available from 2010 to 2023, with quarterly reviewed statements also provided, and no recent restatements are mentioned in the provided articles.

Kind to Animals

Samsung Biologics, a subsidiary, is committed to replacing or minimizing animal use, prioritizing alternative methods, and has introduced recombinant factor C (rFC) as a synthetic alternative to minimize the use of horseshoe crab blood.

The company's animal testing ethics policy applies to Samsung Biologics, its subsidiaries, partners, and suppliers, and prohibits discretionary testing, though legal mandates can still override alternatives. Samsung Biologics seeks external accreditation like AAALAC International for animal care and use programs. Samsung's Wildlife Watch program, launched in 2021 and expanded in 2023, uses Galaxy devices to monitor wildlife in South Africa, and since its pilot, no rhino poaching attempts have been observed in the reserve. Samsung has invested KRW 28.3 trillion in R&D in 2023, but the percentage specifically allocated to animal-free technologies is not provided. The company is a member of an industry consortium working on animal-free testing methods, but the extent of its contributions is minimal.

No War, No Weapons

Samsung Electronics' Responsible Minerals Report 2024 states that 100% of its supply chain's tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold, and cobalt smelters were certified by the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) as of the end of 2023.

The 2025 report confirms 100% RMAP certification for these conflict minerals in 2024. The company aims for 0% procurement of conflict minerals from conflict-affected areas. Samsung also reported 100% compliance with its Conflict Minerals Management Guidance across all product categories in 2024. In 2023, Samsung audited 315 of 904 suppliers of 3TG minerals, and 609 first-tier suppliers underwent on-site audits. In 2024, labor and human rights risk assessments were conducted at 19 DX Division manufacturing sites, and third-party audits were expanded to include 90 first-tier and 33 second-tier suppliers.

Planet-Friendly Business

Samsung Electronics lacks science-based targets for reducing emissions.

The company has a net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions target for its DX Division by 2030 and for its DS Division by 2050. As of the end of 2024, the DX Division achieved a 93.4% renewable energy transition rate, while the DS Division achieved 24.8%. In 2021, 21% of total electricity consumption came from renewables. Samsung uses approximately 344,000 tonnes of water per day. The DX Division aims to replenish 100% of water used globally by 2030, achieving a 38.6% replenishment rate in 2024. The DS Division aims to reduce water withdrawal to 2021 levels by 2030. All 32 of Samsung's global manufacturing sites achieved UL Solutions' "Zero Waste to Landfill" Platinum designation, representing a 100% landfill diversion rate. In 2024, 31% of plastic parts in DX products incorporated recycled materials, with a goal to apply recycled materials to all plastic components by 2050. The company received a fine of KRW 6 million in 2025 for violating the Chemical Substances Control Act and a fine of KRW 2 million in 2023 for violating the Clean Air Conservation Act. Samsung has not disclosed its alignment with TCFD recommendations. The company sources 10-20% of its water from water-stressed basins. Samsung aims to have 75% of its suppliers with their own SBTi-aligned targets in 2024. The company has no formal deforestation policy.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

In 2024, 31% of plastic parts in DX products incorporated recycled materials.

Samsung Electronics received a fine of 6 million KRW for violating the Chemical Substances Control Act related to a potassium hydroxide incident and a fine of 2 million KRW from Gwangju City Hall for violating the Clean Air Conservation Act in 2023. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a fine of 93K USD to Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC (SAS) in 2024 for a failure to report on wafer shredding equipment and a wastewater spill. Samsung has company-wide waste reduction targets with timelines, aiming to apply recycled resin to 50% of plastic parts by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The company provides clear disposal information on all products and packaging. Samsung supports three generations of Android OS upgrades and firmware security updates for a minimum of four years on millions of Galaxy devices. Several products obtained the highest grade by France’s Repairability Index. 12 business sites achieved Platinum Zero Waste-to-Landfill certification.