Semiconductors: How is Intel Approaching Sustainability?
Aside from being a global leader in semiconductor innovation, Intel has made a bold commitment to the environment.
In April 2022, Intel pledged to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its Scope 1 and 2 emissions before 2040.
Emissions in these areas have already decreased by 43% from Intel’s 2019 baseline.
- 99% renewable energy is used across its operations globally
- 10.2 billion gallons of water have been saved
- 63% of Intel's manufacturing waste has been upcycled via reuse, recovery or recycling
Intel’s worldwide approach to sustainability not only underpins its own commitment but is signalling a new era of sustainability in the technology sector.
Armed with a “sustainable computing for a sustainable future” mantra, Intel’s sustainability initiatives span the breadth of its business – from enabling eco-conscious semiconductor manufacturing and circularity practices to improving the energy efficiency of its technologies, platforms and software.
“We are making noteworthy progress toward our environmental goals by focusing on sustainability in several key semiconductor manufacturing areas — electricity, water, waste, our value chain and alternative green chemistry solutions,” Intel says.
These areas, it emphasises, are key to driving toward its larger goal of achieving carbon-neutral computing.
Energy efficiency is another integral element of its approach to sustainability.
“To reach our product environmental goals, we are taking a holistic approach to product sustainability,” the company says.
“We are innovating across our entire portfolio of products, platforms, software and solutions to improve energy efficiency while reducing both our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions as well as our customers’ Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.”
Semiconductor manufacturing and sustainability
One of the biggest focus areas for Intel when it comes to sustainability is its semiconductor manufacturing division.
As the environmental impact of chip manufacturing draws increasing scrutiny, Intel’s ambitious roadmap not only addresses its own carbon footprint but also aims to catalyse industrywide action on climate change.
Playing its part as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing sustainability, Intel works to help other businesses meet their targets and regulatory requirements.
Intel’s own semiconductor manufacturing sustainability credentials include an A CDP Water Security rating, A- CDP rating in both Climate Change and Supplier Engagement and a 1 ISS rating in both Environment and Social Quality Score.
Intel’s former CEO Pat Gelsinger – who was replaced by Lip-Bu Tan earlier this year – said: “The impact of climate change is an urgent global threat. Protecting our planet demands immediate action and fresh thinking about how the world operates.
“As one of the world's leading semiconductor design and manufacturing companies, Intel is in a unique position to make a difference not only in our own operations, but in a way that makes it easier for customers, partners and our whole value chain to take meaningful action too.”
As it stands, as well as being just 1% away from its 100% renewable electricity by 2030 goal, Intel is water net positive in the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and India, with 110% of freshwater usage returned and restored.
This is a significant step towards its global net positive water by 2030 target.
Despite construction waste increasing in 2023, Intel’s waste to landfill has declined from 2022.
Now, only 6% of waste goes to landfill, a leap towards Intel’s zero waste to landfill by 2030 goal.
A further focus on sustainability
Additional interim sustainability milestones set by Intel include:
- Investing around US$300m in energy conservation to save four billion cumulative KWhs
- Constructing all new factories and facilities to meet US Green Building Council LEED energy-saving standards
- Launching cross-industry R&D initiatives to identify greener chemicals and develop new abatement equipment for manufacturing.
These efforts build on Intel’s track record as one of the top voluntary corporate purchasers of green power, with nearly 100 alternative energy installations spanning 15 campuses worldwide.
Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand
