Apple has joined imec’s new Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems (SSTS) research program to help IC manufacturing industry cut back on carbon footprint. imec is a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies.
Apple is committed to the use of clean energy resources across its operation including corporate, retail, and supply chain so that “every Apple device sold will have a net-zero climate impact”. It aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030 by using renewable energy resources and recycled material and claims to have reduced its carbon footprint by 40% in the past five years.
Apple joins the program to reduce the carbon footprint of the chip manufacturing industry
As per the announcement, the IC-making industry has grown drastically over the years. The use of smaller, powerful, and energy-efficient chips has made smart devices more sustainable but has also increased the dependence of other industries on semiconductor technology which has unfortunately increased the IC-making industry’s ecological footprint. “A footprint not only characterized by high energy consumption and the use of chemicals, scarce materials, and ultrapure water – but also by the emission of greenhouse gases such as NF3.”
Optimistic of bringing the ecological revolution, CEO of imec Luc Van den hove says his organization has the required data to help companies like Apple to transition its supply chain to clean renewable energy sources.
“Many systems companies are carbon neutral today for their corporate footprints and have expressed the ambition to have their entire carbon footprint to net zero by 2030. They are very committed to achieving that goal, yet often lack the data to decipher the IC part end-to-end. That is where imec comes in. We have that data, and are ready to support the industry with all necessary insights, tools, instruments and numbers.”
Recently, Cupertino tech giant shared that several of its suppliers around the world are scaling up their use of renewable energy across Apple operations and beyond. It also announced 10 new projects to develop renewable energy resources in remote communities.
- In the US, 19 suppliers in Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program, including Solvay, are scaling their use of renewable energy across their Apple operations, often going beyond their business with Apple.
- In Europe, 19 suppliers are now part of the program, including STMicroelectronics, which has started nine additional projects to deliver renewable energy for its broader operations since joining Apple’s program.
- In China, 50 suppliers are now part of the program, with many maximizing their use of on-site solutions.
- In India, Japan, and South Korea, 31 suppliers have joined, including SK Hynix, one of the first Korean suppliers to participate.
