March 22nd is designated as ‘World Water Day’ by the United Nations to raise awareness of water pollution and scarcity issues. As SAMSUNG SDI uses industrial water in battery and electronic materials manufacturing processes, the company is actively working to reduce water consumption for effective water resource management. Since initiating water reuse efforts in 2022, SAMSUNG SDI has achieved a 42% (6.24 million tons) water reuse rate in 2024. This is an 11 percentage point increase from the previous year.

 [SAMSUNG SDI’s 3-year Water Reuse Rate]

Water reuse involves purifying wastewater generated at production sites and reusing it as industrial water. To enhance the water reuse rate, SAMSUNG SDI has established wastewater and rainwater reuse systems at each of its sites. 

Three methods are employed for wastewater reuse: Reusing wastewater generated during the production of pure water*, purifying wastewater from battery manufacturing processes and using it as cooling tower makeup water, treating discharged wastewater* through sand, activated carbon, and membrane filtration to convert it into industrial water. 

* Pure water: Clean water that does not contain impurities (particulates, microorganisms).

* Discharged wastewater: It is generated at industrial sites and is treated to meet water quality standards before being discharged.

Rainwater reuse involves collecting rainwater in an oil separator to filter and utilizing it.

[SAMSUNG SDI’s Water Reuse System Process]

Thanks to these water reuse systems, SAMSUNG SDI’s Ulsan Factory is reusing approximately 4,600 tons of wastewater per day as of 2024. This proven system is also being expanded to global sites, including operations in Hungary, Malaysia, Tianjin and Xi’an.

[The oil separator prevents contaminants from being washed away by rain (SAPB).]

SAMSUNG SDI aims to achieve a 58% water reuse rate by 2030. The company plans to expand best practices across its sites and subsidiaries while optimizing the operation of water reuse facilities.