Andrew Bellina, senior policy advisor, U.S. EPA Region 2, and Wayne Park, president and CEO, LG Electronics USA, shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding between the two sides.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — LG Electronics USA has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to collaborate on several initiatives, including product stewardship, environmentally preferred purchasing, green infrastructure, green transportation, and environmental education initiatives.

LG has pledged to participate in several EPA stewardship programs, including the Energy Star Commercial Building program, the EPA WasteWise program, and the EPA Sustainable Materials Management program.

The memorandum of understanding explicitly states that LG will pursue a consumer education initiative aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of product use, electronic waste through consumer recycling programs, the use of hazardous substances in its products, and develop new green-life-cycle product designs.

The memorandum was signed by Judith A. Enck, regional administrator, EPA, and Wayne Park, president and CEO, LG USA.

“Sustainability is a core value at LG,” Park said. “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.”

LG will submit an annual status report to the EPA in order for the EPA to assess the environmental benefits associated with LG’s activities. This will allow the EPA to provide LG with feedback on ways to further improve its environmental performance.

The memorandum of understanding is in addition to LG’s participation in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, which LG’s role in will expand under the new partnership by increasing its purchase of green power.

In addition, LG will attempt to make its new nearly 500,000-square-foot office building in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., receive LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LG also is reviewing more than 15 of its other offices for operating and energy-efficiency enhancements, and will use the EPA GreenScapes program to support environmentally friendly landscaping practices.

Publication date: 1/21/2013