On the afternoon of May 14, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER, President Geum Han-seung) under the Ministry of Environment will hold an on-site meeting at Samsung Electronics semiconductor facility (located in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do) to strengthen the scientific basis of integrated environmental management system and enhance global environmental competitiveness. 

The integrated environmental management system is a regulatory system introduced for the first time in 2017, which consolidates seven laws* and 10 environmental permits into one for approximately 1,400 large-scale facilities that emit more than 20 tons of air pollutants or 700 tons of water pollutants annually.

* Clean Air Conservation Act, Water Environment Conservation Act, Soil Environment Conservation Act, Wastes Control Act, Persistent Pollutants Control Act, Malodor Prevention Act, Noise and Vibration Control Act

The semiconductor industry is scheduled to complete integrated permits by 2024, with the revised edition of the Best Available Techniques (BAT)* guideline docu.ment expected to be published next year, incorporating the latest technological trends and advancements.

* Techniques applicable both technically and economically to effectively reduce pollutants emitted from industrial activities by sector

Since the BAT guideline docu.ment is based on various data provided by the industry, including facility status and the latest pollution reduction technologies, continuous communication and collaboration with the industry are crucial above all.  

During this on-site meeting, NIER will inspect the operation status of environmental pollutant removal and greenhouse gas (fluorinated compounds) decomposition facilities (POU scrubbers) used in semiconductor manufacturing processes such as deposition and etching. They will also discuss promising techniques incorporating the latest scientific and technological advancements to be included in future guidelines. 

Meanwhile, based on the analysis results of permits and post-management big data submitted to the integrated environmental permit system, businesses can diagnose their environmental, social, and transparent management (ESG) performance. This will enable them to strengthen voluntary environmental investment and environmental management practices.

The integrated environmental management system can contribute to carbon neutrality and green growth by promoting reduction in pollutant emissions, improvement in energy efficiency, and development of advanced pollution reduction and management technologies in the industrial sector. It can also aid in addressing the climate crisis. 

NIER plans to analyze suggestions and recommendations from this on-site corporate meeting, and through understanding the technological status of the semiconductor industry, it aims to develop the BAT guideline docu.ment, discover the latest environmental management techniques, and further enhance the on-site-focused integrated permit system.

Geum Han-seung, President of NIER, stated, “Through the integrated environmental management system, we will continue to maintain close collaboration with the industry to elevate the environmental competitiveness of the industrial sector to a global level and ensure that it becomes a rational system based on scientific principles.”

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