Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center Launches: A Milestone in Resource Sustainability

TSMC is committed to setting the global standard for environmental sustainability with the goal of achieving "zero waste in resource recycling." The Company has established the Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center, the global semiconductor industry's leading integrated energy and resource recycling facility, which also serves as TSMC's inaugural circular economy demonstration center. The center held its inauguration ceremony on November 13, 2024, and is projected to reduce the annual outsourcing of waste processing by 130,000 metric tons, cutting carbon emissions by 40,000 metric tons, equivalent to the carbon offset of more than 110 Daan Forest Parks. In addition, TSMC and the Ministry of Environment signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop membrane carbon capture technology. The Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center has emerged as Taiwan's pioneering demonstration site for implementing this technology, which will be introduced into general waste thermal treatment (incineration) facilities. This innovative carbon reduction approach aims to enhance and expand sustainable impact.

Developing New Green Technologies: Turning Waste into Gold

Following the principles of minimizing waste, maximizing resource recycling, and optimizing vendor management, the Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center, in addition to TSMC's dedicated solvent thermal recovery plant, collaborated with suppliers to establish three additional facilities: a fluoride recycling plant, a silica recycling plant, and an isopropanol recovery plant, totaling four major processing facilities. Since beginning trial operations in 2023, the center has successfully purified and recycled chemicals to meet the standards for recycled products. These chemicals are suitable for use in other industries and are being developed into electronic-grade quality for reuse in semiconductor processes, reducing the need for raw material extraction. In addition, TSMC converts waste heat generated during the waste resource treatment process into auxiliary energy for the Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center, and also plans to capture carbon through membrane carbon capture technology before it is emitted. This will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieving the carbon reduction benefit of using waste to help the environment.

Aligning with the United Nations' 12th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - Responsible Consumption and Production, TSMC is committed to sustainability through tangible initiatives. The Taichung Zero Waste Manufacturing Center features eco-friendly design elements, such as rainwater recycling systems and solar power installations. The Company plans to replicate this successful model in more locations, including the Southern Taiwan Science Park, Hsinchu Science Park, and international sites, leveraging innovative technologies to enhance resource recycling and achieve a harmonious coexistence with Earth's ecosystems.