KAI Renews ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification for 30th Consecutive Year

Waste recycling rate reaches 80.68%... Expanding resource circulation
Targeting a 21% share of renewable energy by 2030

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is strengthening its environmental, social and governance (ESG) management after maintaining international environmental management system certification for 30 years.

A view of KAI's headquarters building.

KAI said on November 2 that it had received recertification for ISO 14001, the International Organization for Standardization's international standard for environmental management systems, on November 1. The company has maintained the certification for 30 years since first receiving it in 1996.

ISO 14001 is an international standard designed to help companies systematically manage the environmental impact of their business activities and pursue continuous environmental improvements.

KAI has made environmental management a key priority in its ESG efforts and is working to expand waste recycling and renewable energy use. From January to September this year, its waste recycling rate reached 80.68%. By separating and properly managing waste, the company is improving resource-use efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of its business sites.

KAI also operates a system to collect office electronics in cooperation with E-Circulation Governance, a specialized organization that supports the recycling of waste electrical and electronic products. Last year, it collected 26.9 metric tons of discarded electronics and produced 26.6 metric tons of recycled resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 51.4 metric tons.

KAI is also stepping up efforts to expand its use of renewable energy. It currently operates solar power facilities with a capacity of 5.4 MW and is building additional facilities with a capacity of approximately 6 MW. The new facilities are scheduled to begin operating in January next year. Once completed, the total capacity of its solar power facilities will increase to approximately 11.4 MW.

KAI plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy use from 7.3% last year to 21% by 2030. To achieve this, it will continue expanding resource circulation, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

A KAI official said, "Recertification for ISO 14001 recognizes our efforts to consistently implement and improve our environmental management practices. We will continue to advance our environmental management system and pursue ESG management in a substantive manner, contributing to the sustainable development of the aerospace industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.