Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Have spent the last 2-years mapping its carbon footprint, IC manufacturer austriamicrosystems is targeting to become 100% carbon neutral by 2015. The Austria-based firm said that it had already achieved a 50% reduction of CO2 equivalents or 31,000 tons by the end of 2010 and expects CO2 emission equivalents to decline by more than 9,000 tons in 2011, by switching to 100% green electricity based mainly on hydro-electric power sources. The compnay wants other semiconductor firms to follow its example. Read more >>

Five finalists have been listed for this year's SEMICON West, Sustainable Technologies Award, which includes Applied Materials, Edwards, Pall, Tokyo Electron and Verigy. The annual award recognizes equipment, materials or services that have been introduced to the marketplace in the last three years that can contribute to sustainable improvement of the environment. Read more >>

European nanoelectronics research center IMEC and the Semiconductor Research Corp. have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up an international collaboration aimed at the creation of novel, environmentally friendly processes and materials for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The research will be conducted between IMEC and the joint SRC/Sematech Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing, a well-established organization known for its expertise in addressing strategic ESH-related research challenges. Read more >>

In recognition of his contributions to the fields of greenhouse gases reduction and commitment to efficiency in Toshiba’s daily operations, Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation, has been honored with the Akira Inoue Award for Environmental, Health and Safety Excellence. The award, which is presented by SEMI annually, aims to honor those in the industry who have displayed an outstanding achievement in raising awareness of environmental issues in their day-to-day work. Read more >>

Concern for the environment and sustainability is forefront on the priority list for TSMC, as it hosted its “2008 Green Forum – The Present and Future of Green Factories” recently. The company stressed the importance of information sharing in the industry to ensure ‘green’ awareness in all aspects of operations within the industry, with a particular emphasis on building fabs that encompass conscientious manufacturing and R&D practices. Read more >>

AMD unveiled its eighth annual Global Climate Protection Plan (GCPP) that summarized the company’s continuing strategy and goals to maximize energy efficiency, help lower costs and minimize its environmental impact. This year, the GCPP increased its reporting levels to include analysis and data on new initiatives and projects. It also lays out how AMD has once again committed to reduce its normalized greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent and normalize energy usage by 40 percent by 2010, relative to a 2006 baseline year. The company surpassed its commitment for 2002-2007 to reduce normalized greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 40 percent and normalized energy usage by 30 percent. Read more >>

ISMI has presented plaques to Applied Materials & TEL in recognition of their work to reduce energy consumption of their processing tools. Satoshi Saito, Director EHS, TEL and Dr. Stanley Hughes, Product Safety Director at Applied Materials, received the plaques after the Equipment Energy and Utility Reduction Workshop sponsored by ISMI, which is being held in conjunction with ISMI Manufacturing Week in Austin, Texas. Read more >>

Texas Instruments has been recognized by the U.S. EPA for accomplishments in improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There were 11 winners of EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Awards, which included TI. Read more >>

Texas Instruments’ CEO and President Richard Templeton (pictured) has been named as the recipient of the 2007 SEMI Akira Inoue award for excellence in environmental, health and safety standards. The Akira Inoue award is named after the late past President of TEL, who implemented collaboration on EHS development in the semiconductor industry. Read more >>

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Intel Corporation is to become the top corporate purchaser of green power in the United States after the purchase of 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates (RECs), a trasnsaction that is being handled by Sterling Planet.  Read more >>