SK Ecoplant

Stakeholder engagement
SK Ecoplant discloses how often and through which channels it engages with various stakeholder groups.

No leading practices were identified in the ecosystems and biodiversity area.

No leading practices were identified in the social inclusion and community impact area.

Stakeholder engagement
While SK Ecoplant provides a list of the most important issues identified from the materiality assessment, there has not been a specific identification process of the important issues and problems of each stakeholder.

Lobbying
While SK Ecoplant discloses some trade associations of which it is a member, this is not a complete list covering all geographies.

Impact and dependencies assessment
SK Ecoplant has not holistically assessed its impacts or how it depends on nature, including biodiversity. It has an opportunity to start such an assessment across its value chains, focused on quantification of its impacts or dependencies.

Key areas and species
SK Ecoplant does not disclose the locations that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity within its own operations. The company does not disclose the locations of its suppliers that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity. While the company provides a list of the endangered species identified at its construction sites, and the measures taken to protect them, the company is required to provide a list of all species located around or close-by their construction sites. The company does not disclose species populations existing in or adjacent to the locations of its suppliers. The company does not disclose the status according to national and international conservation lists of species identified in its own locations.

Ecosystem conversion and restoration
No evidence was found regarding SK Ecoplant’s efforts to avoid ecosystem conversion, including deforestation, or promote restoration. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets.

Resource exploitation and circularity
No evidence was found regarding SK Ecoplant’s efforts to work towards a circular economy or which organisms it exploits. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets. The company does not disclose efforts to improve soil health.

Water
SK Ecoplant reduced water consumption in 2020 (571,907 m3) compared to 2019 (909,173 m3). For future benchmark iterations, we will be asking the company to provide data on water withdrawals. The company does not disclose a time-bound target to reduce water withdrawal across its own operations. The company does not report how much water is withdrawn for its own operations in water-stressed areas. The company does not engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. The company does not report a decrease in water pollution. The company does not disclose its processes for managing and monitoring discharge water quality. The company does not regularly report on water pollution. The company does not disclose targets to reduce water pollution. The company does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water. The company does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.

Solid and air pollution
SK Ecoplant does not disclose relevant information related to pollution in its operations or supply chains.

GHG emissions
SK Ecoplant reports increases in combined scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2021 (33,242 tCO2 eq.) compared to 2020 (31,211 tCO2 eq.). The company has a target to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions could be found in the public domain. While the company is reporting progress against targets, it did not meet the prerequisite of reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions to be able to score at this element. No evidence that the company’s scope 1 and 2 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found. No evidence that the company reduces its scope 3 emissions was found. The company does not disclose a time-bound target to reduce its scope 3 emissions. The company does not report progress against its scope 3 emissions target. No evidence that the company’s scope 3 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found.

Invasive species
SK Ecoplant has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its own operations.

Safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment
SK Ecoplant does not disclose a commitment to respecting local communities’ right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment or to zero tolerance for acts of violence, threats, intimidation or judicial harassment committed against land and environmental rights defenders.

Indigenous Peoples’ and land rights
SK Ecoplant does not disclose a commitment to respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights or land rights of local communities.

SK Ecoplant has an opportunity to describe a comprehensive process for identifying its human rights risks and impacts across all its activities, especially through its business relationships. The company has an opportunity to describe a process for assessing the human rights risks it has identified and to disclose what it considers to be its salient human rights issues. A description of this process would include how relevant factors are considered, such as geographical, economic and social factors. No evidence was found that the company has a global system to act on its salient human rights issues. While the company discloses the categories of stakeholders it engages with generally on sustainability issues, it is not clear if these stakeholders are those whose human rights have been or may be affected by its activities. No evidence that the company provides examples of its engagement with stakeholders whose human rights have been or may be affected by its activities was found.

On its webpage, SK Ecoplant states that it strives to achieve Zero safety accident incidence. Further, it states that it fulfils fulfil its corporate social responsibility by creating safe and healthful workplace, however, it does not disclose a publicly available policy statement committing it to respect the health and safety of workers. No evidence found of a statement expecting its business relationships to commit to respecting the health and safety of their workers. Additionally, the company has published its Code of Conduct for Business Partner 2021 in Korean language. Hence, not considered in this assessment. The company has an opportunity to disclose a time-bound target for paying all workers a living wage or that it has achieved paying all workers a living wage. The company has an opportunity to describe how it determines a living wage for the regions where it operates. The company has an opportunity to disclose the coverage of collective bargaining agreements. The company has an opportunity to describe how it works to support the practices of its suppliers in relation to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

While SK Ecoplant has a publicly available tax strategy in its Sustainability report, there is no evidence this strategy is found in a formal document, approved by the highest governance body. Additionally, Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for Ethical Management as mentioned in Ethical Management webpage is not accessible. The company discloses that it conducts pan company survey on ethical management practices, However, the company does not describe the process to identify its bribery and corruption risks and impacts in specific locations or activities covering its own operations. The company states that requires all of its SKEC Employees and SKEC Business Partners comply with all relevant laws and regulations that prohibit bribery and corruption, however it is not clear that any breach of the code of conduct will or could result in termination of supplier contracts/relationships. Additionally, the company has published its Code of Conduct for Business Partner 2021 in Korean language. Hence, not considered in this assessment. No evidence that the company has a publicly available policy statement or policy setting out its lobbying and political engagement approach was found. The company provides a publicly available policy statement that specifies that it only allows political contributions by exception and clearly states the criteria for making them.