SK Inno Takes Responsibility for Partners' ESG... Consulting and Loan Interest Support Provided

Inviting Over 80 Partners for the 'Win-Win Growth - ESG Seminar'

SK Innovation is making efforts to strengthen the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) capabilities of its partners for mutual growth.

On the 3rd, SK Innovation hosted the 'Mutual Growth & ESG CEO Seminar' at SK Happiness Town in Jung-gu, Ulsan, inviting about 80 partner companies that do business with SK Innovation, SK Energy, SK Geocentric, SK Enmove, and other affiliates.

Jinwon Kim, Head of Finance at SK Innovation (far left), is taking a commemorative photo with Jonghwa Kim, General Manager of SK Ulsan CLX (far right), and partners at the 'Win-Win Growth - ESG CEO Seminar' held on the 3rd at Ulsan Happy Town. (Photo by SK Innovation)

At the seminar, the current status of partner companies' ESG management was introduced, and the 3rd ESG Excellent Partner Certification and Awards were held. Based on last year's achievements, 37 partner companies selected as excellent partners received certification plaques and SK Innovation's ESG consulting vouchers, which provide support such as ISO certification and greenhouse gas inventory establishment consulting. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can additionally receive loan interest support and incentives worth approximately 1.2 million KRW for ESG evaluation personnel.

Since 2022, SK Innovation has been certifying and awarding ESG excellent partners to encourage voluntary ESG capability enhancement among its partners. Next year, the company plans to strengthen awards focusing on supporting ESG excellent SMEs.

On the day, SK Innovation's working-level staff also conducted a Q&A session regarding SK Innovation's partner ESG policies. They shared the impact of the approval of the 'EU Supply Chain Due Diligence Directive,' which mandates ESG risk due diligence and disclosure for supply chains this year, and the business promotion plans of SK Innovation affiliates, requesting cooperation from partner companies.

SK Innovation is also conducting ESG consulting and risk assessments to raise the ESG management level of its partners. ESG consulting, covering topics such as greenhouse gas emission calculation support, comprehensive HR and labor diagnosis, and one-day ESG consulting for secondary partners, has been ongoing since last month. From June, ESG risk assessment will be implemented. High-risk partners who receive a rating indicating the need for improvement will be closely supported in establishing and implementing improvement plans.

Jinwon Kim, Chief Financial Officer of SK Innovation, said, "We thank the representatives of our partner companies for their dedication to ESG management despite the unfavorable external environment," adding, "We will continue to provide unwavering support to strengthen the ESG capabilities of our partners."