LG reports emissions below 2030 target

• Photo from LG

LG Electronics said its direct and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 had already fallen below the level it targeted for 2030, according to the company’s latest sustainability report.

In its 2025–2026 Sustainability Report released on July 21, LG said its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across domestic and overseas business sites totaled 842,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025.

The figure was below its 2030 target of 878,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Scope 1 covers emissions directly produced by a company’s operations, while Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, heating and cooling.

LG attributed the reduction to initiatives such as the deployment of energy-efficient equipment and the increased use of renewable electricity across its operations.

The company is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 54.6 percent from 2017 levels by 2030.

LG also reported that emissions generated during the use of seven major product categories declined by 22.5 percent per unit in 2025 compared with the company’s 2020 baseline.

The result was ahead of its target to cut emissions intensity during product use by 20 percent by 2030. LG said the target had been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

The company also reported a waste recycling rate of 97.3 percent across its global business sites in 2025, exceeding its 2030 target of 95 percent.

All five of LG’s production sites in South Korea received the highest Platinum rating under the Zero Waste to Landfill certification program, according to the report.

LG said it collected around 640,000 tons of discarded electronic products from 91 locations in 56 countries in 2025. This brought its cumulative e-waste recovery since 2006 to more than 5.65 million tons.

Accessibility initiatives expanded

The report also detailed LG’s efforts to make its products and services more accessible to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Among the initiatives cited were the LG Comfort Kit, which provides accessories designed to make home appliances easier to operate, and the LG Easy TV, which was developed for senior users.

LG said it had also expanded the use of braille and tactile guides and introduced service kiosks featuring sign-language avatars.

The company also provides sign-language consultations for customers with hearing impairments and dedicated consultation services for senior customers.

LG outlines responsible AI governance

LG introduced a Responsible AI section in the sustainability report outlining its artificial intelligence ethics principles and governance framework.

The company said the framework was intended to strengthen accountability and transparency throughout the development and use of AI technologies.

LG also separated the roles of chief executive officer and board chairperson as part of efforts to strengthen board independence. An independent director was appointed as board chairperson earlier this year.

The company said it was included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index for the 14th consecutive year and ranked among the top one percent in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the third consecutive year.

LG also received an “AA” rating from MSCI and a second consecutive Platinum rating from sustainability assessment provider EcoVadis.

LG has published an annual sustainability report since 2006.