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Close-up of otter facing right.

Otters live near the semiconductor factory

An otter family returns home
and the miracle of Osan Stream
by Samsung Semiconductor

Top view of a river so clean the riverbed is visible.

Osan Stream is a body of water that runs 15 kilometers through Gyeonggi Province in Korea and carries water discharged by Samsung’s semiconductor manufacturing plant in Giheung. The Seoul Economy previously described Osan Stream as an environment where animals struggled to survive because of the odor caused by a lack of water. We realized that in order to improve the water quality, the first thing we needed was more water — much more. Starting in 2007, we worked with environmental groups to increase the amount of water by releasing purified water from the Giheung site each day during the summer. Recently, we have been releasing 45,000 tons of water every day.

The tons and
tons
of water
released into
the
stream underwent
purification at our
Green Center.

How did this
wastewater
bring
back the otters?

  • Front view of otter swimming through the river.

    Advanced purification for otter-friendly waters

  • Samsung Semiconductor has received the 'Water Footprint' certification from the Carbon Trust in the UK. The 'Water Footprint' certification is awarded based on an evaluation of water usage at the business site over a period of three years, requiring a reduction in either the absolute amount or the unit amount of water used. Samsung Semiconductor will continue to make efforts to reduce industrial water usage.

From the otters
Close-up of a carp swimming. Close-up of a caterpillar walking across a leaf.
to their neighbors
Close-up side view of white bird.

From the otters
Close-up side view of white bird.
to their
Close-up of a carp swimming. Close-up of a caterpillar walking across a leaf.
neighbors

Dragon swallowtail butterfly seen with its wings extended and sitting on a leaf.

It’s not just about the otters; Samsung has led multiple projects to revive Osan Stream.
We took contaminated water used in the chip production process and purified it so thoroughly that the water quality ended up being better than even government standards.

We also sponsored the Butterfly Road Project, which increased northern pipevine plants to help develop the local ecosystem. Northern pipevines are the only source of food for the dragon swallowtail butterfly, which had been commonly found in Osan Stream.

When the northern pipevines disappeared,
the dragon swallowtail butterflies became endangered. Through our support, the Blue Dongtan Volunteer Group and the Osan branch of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement were able to work on the Osan Stream Butterfly Road project and help
the pipevines and butterflies return.

Large white heron seen from behind as it spreads its wings on a sandy shore.

The endangered animals, plants and insects
built
new homes in Osan Stream.

Once endangered, a diverse range of animal, insect and plant species found a place to call home in Osan Stream, from insects like yellowjackets and dragonflies to carps, turtles, and birds, to the dark sleeper fish, which protected the stream against invasive species of bass.

Whether in your computer, phone, refrigerator or car, Samsung’s chips help make our lives better. And by taking care of the environment, these chips are making the lives of animals, plants and insects better too.

The semiconductors
and technologies,

you can create
a better life,

for us and
for nature.

  • “Water purified at
    our Green Center is actually much
    cleaner than that
    of the surrounding streams.”

    Clean water moving, showing clearly visible water droplets.

    Advanced purification for
    otter-friendly waters

    Our Green Centers at the Giheung and
    Hwaseong sites take the water used in chip manufacturing, classify it as one of six types, then purify it with techniques that match each type’s properties.

    The water purification process is separated into three treatments, biological, chemical and physical, and filters out the contaminants in stages. After this process, the clean water is put into a discharge tank and released. Before the water is released into the stream, the water quality is monitored in real-time through the Korea Environment Corporation’s Tele-Monitoring System (TMS) and sent to government agencies. The quality of this purified water is strictly monitored so that it’s within 30% of each criteria set by Korean law.

  • “Samsung has
    made great strides
    in tackling carbon
    emissions
    and industrial
    water use.”

    Close-up of otter seen from the side swimming with its head partially above water.

    Our water use is
    Water Footprint-certified

    We acquired the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Footprint and Water Footprint certifications
    by following the three Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle.

    Awarded based on international standards,
    these two certifications measure the environmental impact of carbon emissions generated anywhere in the manufacturing process and the reduction of water use.

    With the return of the otters, we show how Samsung’s semiconductor technology innovations not only enhance our lives,
    but the lives around us.

Explore more about Sustainability

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