Environment, Health & Safety
LG Chem fulfills its role as a Sustainable Solutions Partner, creating value for customers while safeguarding the planet. We embed sustainability across the entire product lifecycle—from design and development to end-of-life—by minimizing environmental impact and advancing responsible practices in water, air, waste, and chemical management, supported by a robust Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) framework.
Through governance systems and innovations that surpass global standards, LG Chem is committed to delivering transformative solutions that accelerate resource circularity and enable a resilient, low-carbon future for all stakeholders.
9 INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Environment, Health & Safety LG Chem 12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION Environment, Health & Safety LG Chem 16 PREACE JUSTICE AND STRONG Environment, Health & Safety LG Chem

EH&S Management System

LG Chem has built an organized environment, health, and safety management system based on ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and KOSHA-MS. We continue to improve through third-party inspections and management reviews.
Our Environmental Safety Policy establishes the foundation for optimized environmental safety management by publicizing the company’s commitment to environmental safety management and suggesting consistent environmental safety policy directions
  • 1
    We will comply with all applicable EH&S legal requirements and establish leading corporate EH&S rules and best practices.
  • 2
    We will improve our EH&S level continuously by establishing the safety and health system that identifies and improves the potential risks in advance.
  • 3
    We will drive continuous innovation throughout the entire life cycle of operation to supply environmentally-friendly products and services.
  • 4
    We will provide a safe and healthy work environment and ensure the principle-adhering corporate culture.
  • 5
    We will support business partners and local communities to improve their EH&S practices as our social responsibility.
  • 6
    We will communicate our EH&S policies and programs with stakeholders.
LG Chem is carrying out various activities to establish a people-centered safety culture as well as facilities and facilities.
  • Introduction of behavior-based safety (BBS) program
    Change unstable behavior, which causes accidents, into safe behavior through observation and guidance between colleagues. Promote safe behavior through compliments. We minimize health risks by creating a culture of health management through promotion of member health such as comprehensive health screening and psychological counseling
  • Promote the leader’s on-site management activities and each organization’s own safe culture activities to prevent accidents.
  • Strengthen the on-site capability to prevent a recurrence of an accident by reflecting environment safety accidents in the evaluation of employees according to their gravity.
    Workplace Management
    To ensure a safe and comfortable working environment, LG Chem conducts the measurement of hazardous factors through external specialized institutions twice a year. We are reassessing our working environment by establishing internal standards that are stricter than legal standards. Also, by conducting preventive activities for musculoskeletal diseases and self-inspection of local exhaust ventilation, we constantly reexamine our working environment for all members to work in comfortable settings. We will continuously strive to ensure the highest level of safe work environment in the industry.
  • LG Chem’s each business site identifies the needs for Environment, Health & Safetyeducation/training and establishes a yearly education/training plan for its employees and partners.
LG Chem’s each business site identifies the needs for EH&S education, training and establishes a yearly education, training plan for its employees and partners.
  • 1
    Training courses customized for different positions and duties
    Beginner, basic, and professional courses
  • 2
    Training for all business sites and employees
    24 hours for employees and 16 hours for supervisors
  • 3
    Training for new recruits and those whose duties have been changed
  • 4
    Training for workers who conduct special tasks
  • 5
    Regular training programs for the employees of partners
    Safety management/measures, emergency evacuation rules
The EH&S Audit system of LG Chem is subdivided into planned Audit, and special Audit.
  • 1
    Planned Audit
    Safety audit on suppliers , facility safety management, emergency response system and fulfilment inspection.
  • 2
    Special Audit
    On business sites where serious disasters have occurred or there is a likelihood of such

Mid- to Long-Term EHS Goals and Strategies

Pollutant Management
Goal
  • Achieve a 10% reduction in unit emissions of air and water pollutants by 2030, compared to 2022 levels.
Strategic Approach
  • Optimize processes and invest in advanced facilities to minimize pollutant generation at the source.
  • Deploy 24/7 monitoring through Tele-Monitoring Systems (TMS) for real-time oversight of air and water quality.
  • Implement best-in-class prevention technologies, including Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers (RTOs), to maximize emission reduction efficiency.
Waste Management
Goal
  • In 2022, LG Chem became the first company in Korea’s petrochemical industry to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) certification. By 2030, we aim to extend this achievement by securing certification for 30% of all global business sites.
Strategic Approach
  • Implement end-to-end waste management systems, covering every stage from generation to final treatment.
  • Accelerate resource circularity by converting landfill-bound waste into recyclable materials, driving continuous improvement in recycling rates.
Chemical Management and Safety
Goal
  • Prevent product toxicity risks by establishing a toxicity testing foundation (completed in 2024) and implementing a comprehensive chemical management system by 2026 to enable ongoing reduction and substitution initiatives.
  • Achieve Zero serious accidents and maintain a Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) of 0.1 or lower by 2030, reinforcing our commitment to workplace safety.
Strategic Approach
  • Implement a robust chemical management framework aligned with LGC Standards to ensure compliance and proactive risk mitigation.
  • Upgrade aging and high-risk facilities through continuous improvement programs to strengthen operational safety.
  • Adopt multi-layered safety systems and advanced digital technologies to enable predictive, prevention-focused safety management.

Beyond International Standards: Driving a Sustainable Future

LG Chem places Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) at the heart of its business strategy, supported by globally recognized ISO certifications that ensure robust governance and continuous improvement.

  • ISO 14001

    Validates that our environmental management system meets international standards for sustainability.

  • ISO 45001

    Certifies our proactive risk management framework designed to prevent industrial accidents.

Building on this foundation, LG Chem advances waste reduction and resource circularity as core ESG priorities. In 2022, we became the first company in Korea’s petrochemical industry to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) international certification, reinforcing our leadership in sustainable operations.

Status of ISO EHS Certifications

Driving Resource Circularity: Challenges and Achievements

From 2022 to 2024, LG Chem achieved significant milestones in advancing resource circularity. Our Quzhou site in China obtained ZWTL certification in 2022, followed by Guangzhou in 2023. In 2024, the Tianjin site earned Platinum grade and the Yeosu Hwa-chi site achieved Gold grade, bringing the total to six sites globally certified over three consecutive years.

The Tianjin site accomplished 100% recycling of waste wood and plastic containers, while the Yeosu Hwa-chi site reached a 96% recycling rate for wastewater treatment sludge, demonstrating leadership in resource recovery.
Beyond site-level achievements, LG Chem actively promotes public-private partnerships to expand plastic recycling, collaborating with Yeosu City and the Korea Environment Corporation. We also integrate circularity into product design and manufacturing, including the use of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials for packaging.

Looking ahead, LG Chem will continue to scale ZWTL certification across global operations and advance EHS management practices to deliver a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable future.

Key Environmental Safety Achievements and Investments

Driving Measurable Impact Through Strategic Action

LG Chem goes beyond regulatory compliance in Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), embedding proactive risk management and continuous improvement into its core business strategy. We deliver measurable progress through clear, quantitative targets in critical areas—pollutant reduction, waste and resource circularity, and workplace safety—supported by sustained investments in advanced technologies, infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships.
Our commitment to transparency ensures that we disclose key EHS performance indicators and investment outcomes, reinforcing accountability to stakeholders. Looking ahead, LG Chem will continue to implement globally benchmarked EHS practices and strategic initiatives that enable a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable future.

Hazardous Substance Management and Eco-Friendly Technologies for Safer Products

As a global producer of materials and products that are essential for the development of modern industries and convenience of human life, LG Chem is committed to reducing the environmental and health impacts of our products with a heavy responsibility. This effort focuses on the reduction or removal of hazardous substances contained in the product. We are minimizing the adverse effects on the environment and health by managing the content of hazardous substances below the regulatory level in Korea and abroad. We also continue to increase the proportion of eco-friendly products through producing advanced next-generation materials and products and utilizing green energy through developing new future-oriented technologies.”

Establishing eco-friendly product policy

Chemical Stewardship Global Leader
Establishing Chemical Management System
  • Standardization and systemization of chemical substance management processes
  • Establishing advanced inspection system for hazards, risks, and compliance
Preemptive Response to Global Regulations
  • Establishing strategy to recognize and respond to domestic and foreign regulatory trends
  • Registering existing substances/new substances
  • Establishing a global network and responding in collaboration
Building Eco-Friendly Product Capacity
  • Eco-friendly supply chain management
  • Eco-friendly product warranty
  • Enhancing eco-friendly partnerships with suppliers
  • Strengthening product toxicity management

Product Toxicity Management in the Development Stage for Safer Products

Scientific Validation and Responsible Management for Product Safety

LG Chem proactively evaluates and manages hazardous substance risks across its entire product portfolio, considering the unique characteristics of the chemical industry and diverse stakeholder expectations. Beyond regulatory compliance, we have established a system to identify and address toxicity risks from the earliest stages of product development.

Every new product undergoes mandatory pre-toxicity assessment before mass production. Products confirmed to pose hazards are restricted from market release, ensuring that only safe products reach customers. To overcome the limitations of traditional hazard estimation methods, we share toxicity assessment results transparently with workers and users based on in-house testing.

In 2023, LG Chem strengthened its scientific foundation for product toxicity management by implementing QSAR-based predictive modeling and in-vitro testing methods at the Magok R&D Campus, enabling animal-alternative toxicity evaluations. Starting in 2025, standardized pre-toxicity assessments will restrict commercialization of products identified as hazardous under international criteria, including CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reproductive toxicity), PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic), vPvB (very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative), and EDC (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals). This approach ensures safer and more sustainable product development.

Additionally, we continuously replace or reduce hazardous additives in existing products to secure both safety and environmental performance throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Comprehensive Hazardous Substance Management for Safer Products

Identification of Controlled Substances under Product Environmental Guidelines

We classify substances into three risk-based categories and apply strict controls from the raw material procurement stage in accordance with product environmental management guidelines.

Global Chemical and Regulatory Inventory

LG Chem maintains a comprehensive global chemical regulatory database and an internal inventory of substances used in our products to ensure compliance with international regulations. We respond promptly to customer requests through a certification issuance system and provide additional reviews or research findings when necessary. In 2023, with PFAS regulations becoming more visible, we added PFAS to our internal hazardous substance list and conducted a full-scale review of raw materials and products to assess substitution possibilities.

Systematic Management of Product Composition Information

We integrate product composition data into a centralized Bill of Substance (BOS) management system, enabling continuous monitoring of hazardous substance presence and quantities in all manufactured and sold products. This information is disclosed transparently upon customer request.

Preventing Hazardous Substance-Related Incidents Through Rigorous Control

LG Chem designates 50 high-risk substances-those with severe toxicity or a history of fatal chemical incidents-for special management. Storage and handling facilities for hazardous chemicals are managed under enhanced standards that exceed legal requirements. These high-risk substance management standards, initially implemented at domestic sites, have been extended to overseas operations and are reinforced through regular on-site inspections by specialized experts to ensure global-level compliance.

Accident Prevention Measures

  • Strengthened leak detection and alarm systems through intelligent CCTV and gas sensors
  • Enhanced safety protocols for chemical unloading operations with automated pump-stop and alert systems
  • Emergency mitigation measures such as forced ventilation and containment facilities
  • Verification of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all purchased chemicals, with exceptions documented through electronic approval processes