The Korean Geosynthetics Society announced on the 21st that it successfully concluded the "2023 ESG Management Seminar for the Geosynthetics Industry," held on the 20th at the Seoul headquarters of the FITI Testing & Research Institute.

In recent years, ESG management has established itself as a core business trend for global enterprises, triggering rapid shifts across industrial paradigms. As climate crisis and carbon-neutrality policies strengthen—led by major economies such as the European Union (EU) and the United States—Korean companies are showing a sharp increase in interest regarding ESG.

Particularly within the civil engineering and construction sectors, the importance of developing and adopting low-carbon, eco-friendly geosynthetics, fulfilling corporate social responsibilities, and establishing transparent governance has come to the fore. In response to these government policies and societal demands, the Society previously established an "ESG Technical Committee."

Organized for the first time this year, the event aimed to promote ESG management expansion across the geosynthetics industry. Kim Yu-gyum, Senior Researcher at the FITI Testing & Research Institute, took the podium as the first speaker under the theme "ESG Management and the Future of Geosynthetics." He examined the strategic direction the industry must pursue alongside the spread of ESG practices and introduced a digital-based platform capable of evaluating and managing ESG performance.

"Efforts are required to secure sustainability by building transparent business platforms among civil engineering and construction stakeholders, such as project owners and contractors," Senior Researcher Kim emphasized. "We must adopt new materials and technologies in response to evolving domestic and international ESG policies and market changes, while enhancing the integrity of the entire supply chain."

The second speaker, CEO Sung-yeop Ha of MarinaChain, presented on "Global ESG Trends and Why ESG Management is Essential," introducing the necessity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to proactively prepare for ESG along with real-world case studies.

Concluding the presentations, Manager Lee Geon-hee of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction shared vivid field experiences regarding sustainable management strategies, goal setting, and execution under the theme "Current Status of ESG Management Implementation by Mid-Sized Shipbuilding and Construction Companies."

The event drew high engagement from small and medium-sized enterprises struggling with the initial adoption of ESG frameworks. Attendees actively participated in discussions regarding concrete action plans for establishing and internalizing ESG strategies. Expectations are rising as the Society announced plans to expand related advisory services, policy recommendations, and collaborative networking moving forward.

In his opening remarks, Society President Yoo Seung-kyung stated, "We prepared this seminar through in-depth discussions with experts to explore viable ESG strategies for the geosynthetics industry. I hope this seminar serves as a practical asset for SMEs and acts as a stepping stone toward the sustainable development of the entire geosynthetics sector."

Source : https://idsn.co.kr/news/view/1065589123306173