Workplace & Environment
BRINGING VALUE TO PEOPLE, CUSTOMERS, COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
A focus on the environment – across all aspects of the business – is the catalyst to creating a better world for future generations. At Hanon Systems, this basic premise is at the heart of the company’s environmental management principles, which is realized through the individual talent and personal conviction of employees.
For the company, declaring a commitment to the environment is not a directive; instead, it is a mindset that is manifesting itself in many ways – whether it is developing solutions to support eco-friendly vehicles to making manufacturing operations more energy efficient to organizing employee volunteer outings to plant trees in a local schoolyard.
People
Hanon Systems recognizes the critical role our employees play in the company’s success, which includes its efforts around corporate responsibility. The company strives to be an employer of choice to attract and retain the best talent by supporting and promote an inclusive working environment that embodies challenging assignments, safe and fair labor practices, and is based on mutual trust and respect.
Learn more about Code of Basic Working Conditions at Hanon Systems
Embracing an Environmental Focus
Hanon Systems recognizes the importance of having a robust and best-practice environmental management system in place globally. Hanon Systems maintains ISO 14001 certification and assurance covering all global manufacturing facilities. Strong EH&S management keeps employees informed and aware of ways to continuously build and improve on the company’s performance.
With a focus on the impact of climate change, the company has established a long term roadmap to be carbon neutral by 2040. By sharing best practices, implementing innovative solutions and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement, Hanon Systems can bring value to the environment and the bottom line.
Air and Water Pollution Management
Air and water pollution remains a global issue that negatively impacts everyone and everything on the planet. Hanon Systems asserts it will comply with and work to exceed the minimum level of requirements where any laws, regulations, customer requirements or other compliance obligations exist concerning environmental matters by acting as a good corporate citizen in an environmentally friendly manner.
Waste Management
Creating industrial waste lowers operating efficiency. At the same time, it represents an opportunity to improve overall efficiency. At Hanon Systems, aluminum, iron, waste oil, general waste and plastic accounts for the majority of waste in terms of raw materials. Targets for each manufacturing process are set with the intent to reduce waste as well as to minimize any defect rate to aid in the efficient use of material resources. Waste factors are monitored daily and tracked across all manufacturing sites. The company firmly commits to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, and to reduce the amount of waste directed toward landfills.
Beyond manufacturing, a heightened focus on waste management is encouraged at all of the company’s locations around the world. To keep this top-of-mind, the company encourages reduction in paper waste and offers instructions related to the proper disposal of items such as batteries, printers cartridges, plastics and other recyclable materials.
Water Management
Water is another finite resource that needs protecting. The company collects data related water usage at its production facilities every month, which includes the wastewater generated. Goals are set for each site in an effort to reduce the amount of wastewater discharge. By applying more stringent standards to water management, the environmental impact on the overall water system is expected to diminish and Hanon Systems is focused on doing its part to preserve this resource.
Chemical Management
Hanon Systems strictly follows all regulations and guidelines regarding hazardous substances and works internally to a global system of data collection and monitoring. The company maintains a chemical substance management directory and material safety data sheet (MSDS) for every site and product manufactured by the company. This database of information includes the specific use, place of use, composition and properties, precautions, and first aid measures in case of an accident for every chemical used in the manufacturing process or composition of products. Before the introduction of a new chemical substance into the Hanon Systems environment, MSDS training is conducted on the new substance, which includes preliminary environmental safety reviews.
External Recognition
Since 1999, the company’s Daejeon plant as received the designation of “green company” defined by the Korea Ministry of Environment. This designation is defined as a company that significantly contributes to improving the environment by remarkably reducing pollutants, natural resources and energy, as well as improving environmentally friendly features in products and establishing of green management system in Korea. The plant was evaluated for its energy saving capacity, environmental improvement features at the Asia Pacific Innovation Center and technological innovations supporting environmentally friendly vehicles.
In Hanon Systems Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea, waste heat discharged from production furnaces is recovered and used to heat up water in the cleansing process where temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius are required. Normally, steam is used to heat the water up, which requires a great deal of energy.
In any facility, the opening and closing of doors poses potential heat loss, energy inefficiencies and a knock-on impact in our carbon footprint. Large plant doors used for logistics involving vehicles such as forklift trucks are the biggest challenge as the temperature loss on one opening is considerable. Through installing two automatic, quick-lifting doors that only open if the other is closed at entrances to the manufacturing halls has better insulated the interior and has reduced heat loss.
Let’s reflect… on lighting solutions
Lighting has a large impact on the operational efficiency of each location. Teams in Hanon Systems are constantly looking for ways to decrease this impact. To combat this, a number of sites have installed reflectors into existing light fixtures, decreasing the number of lights needed by up to 50%. One location removed 550 light fixtures thanks to this simple design change. Better for the environment; better for the bottom line. A win-win situation.
Hanon Systems Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea patented and implemented a process that ensures a uniform coating thickness to compressor pistons, eliminating both air pollutants and the need for special ventilation. The method was a finalist in the Automotive News PACE Award manufacturing process category in 2013.
Hanon Systems Hluk plant in the Czech Republic made a very simple change to its water utilization that has led to considerable savings and less impact on the local environment. All water for the cooling towers and heating had previously been pumped from a nearby lake, a process that involved running a pump for 4 hours a day, using 7.5 kW an hour of energy.
Through collecting and utilizing rain water in a tank, the plant has managed to cut the running time of the pump down to 2 hours a day. The change in process cost nothing to implement and it is hoped similar future opportunities for sustainable water strategies exist elsewhere. This is an excellent example of how being greener means savings.
India – Best Environment Friendly Green Company
Hanon Systems in Bhiwadi, India was recognized by the State Government of Rajasthan, India, for its contribution to environmental protection. VCSIL received the "Best Environment Friendly Green Company" award from the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO), and was judged based on efforts surrounding water utilization, waste reuse, recycling and energy conservation.
Hanon Systems Recognized for Outstanding Climate Change Competitiveness in Korea
Hanon Systems received the “2014 Company with Excellent Competitiveness for Climate Change” certification at an event in Seoul on Sept. 30.
The event was jointly hosted by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Korea Energy Management Corp.; and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This annual certification is granted to Korean companies with outstanding handling of climate change, and demonstration of eco-friendly efforts in its operations and product offering.
ECO for Life Award 2014
Hanon Systems Thailand received the ECO for Life 2014 Award from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. The award recognizes the plant’s efforts in promoting environment friendly operations and contribution towards CSR activities.