KCI Secures Platinum Medal In EcoVadis ESG Rating, Enters Top 1% Globally

In a significant achievement for Samyang Group, its subsidiary KCI, specializing in cosmetics and personal care materials, has been awarded the prestigious 'Platinum Medal' in the 2024 Sustainability Rating by EcoVadis, a leading global ESG rating agency. This accolade places KCI among the top 1% of companies worldwide in terms of sustainability practices, marking a notable milestone in its journey towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence.

EcoVadis operates the world's largest ESG ratings platform, evaluating over 120,000 companies across 180 countries. The agency assesses companies on various sustainability metrics including environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Achieving a Platinum Medal signifies outstanding performance across these dimensions.

KCI's journey with EcoVadis began in 2013, and over the years, it has consistently improved its sustainability ratings. From winning silver medals in 2017, 2019, and 2020 to gold medals in 2021 and 2023, KCI has now reached the pinnacle of EcoVadis ratings with the Platinum Medal. This achievement underscores KCI's commitment to integrating ESG principles into its operations and supply chain management.

The company has made significant strides in ESG management by establishing an ESG committee under its board of directors, revising major ESG-related policies, and enhancing employee training on labor and human rights. These efforts have been complemented by improvements in supply chain management through rigorous assessments of collaborating partners.

KCI's dedication to sustainable practices is further evidenced by its certifications from international organizations such as RSPO for sustainable palm oil production, ISO14001 for environmental management, and ISO45001 for occupational health and safety management. Additionally, KCI engages in global sustainability initiatives like the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and Responsible Care (RC).

Since 2021, KCI has published an annual sustainability report to transparently share its corporate vision, strategy, financial and non-financial performance with stakeholders. Looking ahead, KCI aims to internalize ESG management further and pursue sustainable growth through initiatives like increasing the use of eco-friendly raw materials and developing biodegradable products. The company also plans to enhance its ESG management system for its supply chain and work towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Jinyong Lee, CEO of KCI, emphasized the growing importance of corporate ESG management levels as a criterion for global companies when selecting partners. He expressed confidence that the EcoVadis rating would bolster KCI's global market expansion efforts and reinforce its position as a leading eco-friendly personal care materials company.

KCI is a key player in the cosmetics and personal care materials industry, supplying products to over 120 consumer goods companies in 37 countries. The company holds a prominent position as one of the world's top three suppliers in the field of hair conditioning and is the second company globally to commercialize MPC (Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine), a biocompatible material used in cosmetics, contact lenses, and medical devices.