SEATTLE, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The non-profit Basel Action Network (BAN) and LG Electronics today announced that LG Electronics Inc. is the first “Global e-Stewards Enterprise,” a company committed to responsible recycling of its electronic waste and choosing to use e-Stewards Certified electronics recyclers worldwide.

“This is historic,” said BAN Executive Director Jim Puckett. “To have a company like LG, with more than 90,000 employees working in 120 operations on five continents, embrace the e-Stewards program around the world will not only significantly protect human health and the environment from toxic pollution but will raise the profile of the e-Stewards internationally. It speaks volumes about LG’s commitment to environmental leadership.”

The company has been leading the way in responsible electronics recycling in the United States. The LG Electronics Recycling Program provides consumers with a convenient and responsible way to dispose of used, unwanted, obsolete or damaged consumer electronics products. In 2010, LG recycled more than 8 million pounds of home electronic products in the United States, free of charge to consumers.

“LG has always been committed to providing consumers the highest quality products available while reducing the environmental impacts of the manufacturing and use of those products,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, president and chief technology officer, LG Electronics, Inc. “Our partnership with BAN and e-Stewards demonstrates LG’s equal commitment to reducing the impacts of products at the end of their life.”

By becoming an e-Stewards Enterprise, LG will give preference to electronics recyclers that meet and are certified to the “e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment.”

The international standard, developed by BAN, with the advice of industry leaders and health and environmental specialists, is the world’s most rigorous certification program for electronics recyclers. It prevents the export and dumping of toxic electronic waste in developing countries. The standard also calls for strict protection of private data and occupational health safeguards to ensure workers in recycling plants are not exposed to toxic dusts.

Currently, there are e-Stewards Recyclers in the United States, Mexico and the UK with several in progress in Canada.

As the primary sponsor of the Champions of the Earth award, the United Nations flagship environmental award, LG contributes more than $600,000 annually to raise awareness of environmental issues at the regional and global levels and to help develop practical solutions.

“Sustainability is a core value at LG,” said Wayne Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics USA. “From our ambitious carbon reduction commitments, to our industry-leading efforts to bring high efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified products to market, to our support for environmental efforts around the world, reducing environmental impact, while enhancing consumers’ lives through innovation. Life’s good when you live green.”

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2010 global sales of $48.2 billion, LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About the Basel Action Network

Founded in 1997. the Basel Action Network is a 501(c)3 charitable organization of the United States, based in Seattle, Wash. BAN is the world’s only organization focused on confronting the global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade (toxic wastes, products and technologies) and its devastating impacts. Working at the nexus of human rights and environment, we confront the issues of environmental justice at a macro level, preventing disproportionate and unsustainable dumping of the world’s toxic waste and pollution on our global village’s poorest residents. At the same time BAN actively promotes the sustainable and just solutions to the consumption and waste crises — banning waste trade, while promoting green, toxic free and democratic design of consumer products. For more information, visit: www.ban.org.

About the e-Stewards

The Basel Action Network’s e-Stewards Certification has become an essential tool in helping individuals and organizations identify electronics recyclers that ensure that their best intentions to responsibly recycle obsolete electronics are honored. Generators of electronic waste (e-waste) have become increasingly aware of the impacts that improper disposal can have on the environment here in the U.S. and in developing countries that have become dumping grounds for hazardous e-waste shipped from the U.S. Certified e-Stewards Recyclers, have been extensively audited by accredited third-party Certification Bodies to ensure that all requirements of the Standard have been met. For more information about the e-Stewards Initiative: www.e-Stewards.org.

SOURCE LG Electronics, Inc.