LG Chem is focusing on social contribution projects to build a healthy society as part of its environment, social and governance (ESG) management.
LG Chem released its social contribution vision, "Green Connector," in Aug. 2020 to promote businesses that meet social needs with a focus on responding to environmental and climate change. The intent is to concentrate on activities that maximize social and environmental value across four key areas: education and ecosystems, economy, and energy.
Among them, "Like Green" is LG Chem's flagship education-focused social contribution program to create a sustainable planet. Like Green consists of two programs, "Daedamhae" and "Green Class." Daedamhae is a YouTube channel program designed to help the general public easily understand environmental, scientific and social issues and to build a healthy society. It covers social issues broadly and proceeds in a talk format that explores solutions with experts.
LG Chem is also running Green Class, which provides integrated ESG educational materials to schools and care institutions so teenagers can grow into ESG leaders. Green Class supplies proprietary educational materials to schools and care institutions to help students easily understand environmental and social issues, and teachers use them in class.
It is also carrying out educational talent donations through the "Green Class employee volunteer group." A key feature is that employees visit educational institutions in person to communicate with students. In 2024, the employee Green Class volunteer group visited 19 community child centers and elementary schools nationwide and provided career and environmental education to more than 700 elementary school students.
The marine ecosystem restoration and research project for the seagrass habitat of the "blue carbon" sea forest, launched in 2023 as part of ESG efforts, is also showing results. Seagrass is a marine plant that flowers in the sea and is one form of "blue carbon," a marine carbon sink. Blue carbon refers to carbon absorbed by marine ecosystems such as the ocean and wetlands.
In the first year of the project, 50,000 shoots of seagrass were transplanted, and an additional 20,000 shoots were transplanted in the second year. By this year, the plan is to expand the seagrass meadow to 10 hectares (ha), the size of 14 soccer fields. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon emitted annually by 2,800 cars.
An LG Chem official said, "We expect it to absorb about 5,000 tons (t) of carbon annually and contribute to improving the global environment," adding, "In the second-year monitoring, we also confirmed increased biodiversity, with 32 species of large benthic animals observed in the additional transplant areas."