Company Directory - Samsung SDI
Company Details - Samsung SDI
Samsung SDI
WebsiteSouth Korea
Samsung SDI is a major battery manufacturer in South Korea, known for producing batteries for electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
CCI Score
CCI Score: Samsung SDI
-39.05
0.03%
Latest Event
Samsung SDI Supply Chain and Labor Response
Following a fire at an Aricell-run battery factory that resulted in worker fatalities and allegations of safety violations, Samsung SDI responded by stating it does not conduct business with Aricell and provided no further information regarding its human rights due diligence or remediation efforts.
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TOADIE
Samsung SDI is currently rated as a Toadie.
Latest Events
- JUL032024
Following a fire at an Aricell-run battery factory that resulted in worker fatalities and allegations of safety violations, Samsung SDI responded by stating it does not conduct business with Aricell and provided no further information regarding its human rights due diligence or remediation efforts.
-20
Supply Chain Ethics
March 28
Samsung SDI distanced itself from the supplier implicated in severe safety violations by stating it does not conduct business with Aricell. However, the response lacked detailed disclosure regarding the human rights due diligence process and oversight measures, missing an opportunity to demonstrate proactive accountability in supply chain ethics.
-15
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 28
The company did not provide any details on its human rights due diligence or outline any remediation steps in response to the tragedy, reflecting a shortfall in addressing labor rights and safety concerns—even though it disassociated from the supplier.
- JUL032024
Samsung SDI responded to a request by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre to address allegations of safety violations and labour standard oversights at the Aricell factory. In its statement, the company noted that it does not conduct any business with Aricell and has no information about the supplier, which neither confirms robust due diligence practices nor indicates complicity.
+0
Supply Chain Ethics
March 28
Samsung SDI’s response disavows any direct relationship with the reportedly problematic supplier, which on the surface avoids complicity in safety and labour violations. However, by not detailing broader human rights and labour due diligence measures in its supplier contracts, the company falls short on demonstrating proactive ethical supply chain management. This results in a neutral impact on its overall rating.
- JUN012024
After a deadly fire at an Aricell-run lithium battery factory in June 2024 that killed 23 workers—including many contract and migrant workers—the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has called on Samsung SDI, a major secondary battery maker, to clarify its human rights due diligence practices and safety monitoring standards with its suppliers. The inquiry focuses on allegations of labor exploitation and safety violations in the supply chain.
-40
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 28
The incident highlights systemic issues in labor relations and worker protection, with vulnerable contract and migrant workers exposed to unsafe conditions. Samsung SDI, being linked to the supply chain, is under pressure to ensure that its contractual partners adhere to fair labor practices and adequate safety standards. Its lack of a demonstrated robust due diligence mechanism in this context earns a negative score in the labor relations and human rights practices category.
-50
Supply Chain Ethics
March 28
Samsung SDI's indirect supply chain link to the Aricell factory, where hazardous working conditions were reported, has prompted calls for greater transparency and accountability in its supplier selection and oversight. The absence of clear evidence of strong supply chain human rights due diligence practices in response to the incident contributes to a significant negative rating in the supply chain ethics category.
- JAN012024
An OpenSecrets report linked Samsung Group, which includes Samsung SDI America, to significant political lobbying efforts in 2024, with $6.98 million spent on lobbying. The report also highlights a concerning revolving door dynamic with a high proportion of lobbyists being former government officials.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
March 28
The report evidences that Samsung Group, including its affiliate Samsung SDI America, spent nearly $7 million on lobbying during 2024. This financial commitment to influencing policy, paired with such substantial expenditure, suggests a deep involvement in political processes that may favor corporate interests over public accountability.
-70
Executive Political Engagement
March 28
The report notes that a high percentage of lobbyists associated with Samsung Group (including Samsung SDI America) have previously held government positions, reflecting a revolving door dynamic that can compromise democratic governance and support authoritarian tendencies.
- JAN012023
OpenSecrets data reveals that Samsung SDI America allocated $570,000 to lobbying efforts in 2023 as part of the broader Samsung Group’s $6,300,000 lobbying expenditure. This significant spending in the political arena raises concerns about corporate influence on policy-making.
-40
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
March 28
The disclosed lobbying expenditure signals a deliberate effort by Samsung SDI America to shape political outcomes, which can contribute to corporate influence over democratic processes. From an anti-fascist perspective, such financial involvement in politics is worrisome as it may facilitate regulatory capture and favor policies that undermine public accountability.
- JUN232019
A report by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre details exploitative and inhuman working conditions in Samsung-operated factories across Asia, including allegations of forced labor, wage violations, and abusive treatment of workers, contradicting the company's public statements on upholding international labor standards.
-80
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 28
The report highlights severe violations of labor rights at Samsung factories in Asia, including forced labor, unfair termination, and underpayment. These exploitative practices directly undermine worker rights and ethical business practices, reflecting negatively on the company’s commitment to protecting labor standards.
Report finds exploitative working conditions in Samsung factories across Asia
- JAN012019
In 2019, investigative reporters at the Korean media outlet Hankyoreh released a series alleging unsustainable labor practices in the supply chains serving Samsung SDI. The reports detailed poor wages, unsafe working conditions—including health and safety concerns linked to worker deaths—and union busting at mobile phone factories in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
-70
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 28
The investigative series detailed severe labor rights violations such as unsafe working conditions, poor wages, and union busting. These practices undermine worker rights and contribute to authoritarian business practices by silencing labor voices, thus earning a strong negative score in labor relations and human rights practices.
Samsung accused of 'unsustainable labour practices' in its supply chain; Incl. co. statement
-60
Supply Chain Ethics
March 28
The allegations also raise serious concerns about supply chain ethics, with multiple factories in different countries accused of systemic labor exploitation and unsafe conditions. Such practices compromise ethical sourcing and oversight, contributing negatively to Samsung SDI's accountability in its global supply chain.
Samsung accused of 'unsustainable labour practices' in its supply chain; Incl. co. statement
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Industries
- 334413
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- All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
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- Storage Battery Manufacturing