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Sustainability-for-Semiconductors
Sustainability

The crucial role of semiconductors in the transition toward a greener world

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With the boom in human and machine-generated data, IT capabilities, AI and connectivity, the global semiconductor market is likely to double by 2030. This poses new challenges for the semiconductor companies.

This rapid growth generates environmental challenges with the ever-growing intensive use of raw materials, chemicals, and significant emissions of process gases. Consumers, investors, and regulators now expect sustainable strategies, and the semiconductor market players must address these issues.

At Capgemini, we begin a new Sustainability for Semiconductors – article series, addressing all the core issues that affect semiconductor companies’ sustainability journey. Our first article introduces the key elements affecting this path.

Power consumption is the main challenge for semiconductor manufacturers, accounting for almost 80% of their greenhouse gas emissions. To address this issue, strategies must be developed to optimize their energy consumption as well as adopting renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand. By optimizing the energy consumption of manufacturing tools and utilizing AI, semiconductor manufacturers can reduce downtime and improve manufacturing efficiency. They can also reduce energy losses, manage cleanrooms, and use LED lighting to contribute to a greener world.

Water, process gases, and semiconductor materials are also sustainability drivers, with many manufacturers overusing these resources, requiring water recycling, alternative gases, and better traceability of the metals used, to aid the sustainability journey.

Collaboration between industry stakeholders, from suppliers to customers, is vital for manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain. This cooperation is also key for them in promoting the sustainable use and recycling of products.

Some promising initiatives are already underway, with certain companies accelerating towards a green transition, however, energy transition will be a crucial part of the semiconductor manufacturers’ development strategy to reduce their carbon footprint.

To know more, download Capgemini Invent experts’ point of view.

Meet our experts

Nicolas Gaudilliere

Chief Technology Officer, Capgemini Invent
A CentraleSupelec engineer, Nicolas started his career in the 2000s. He initially worked as a cybersecurity consultant, before helping to set up Cloud service platforms for telecom operators and major integrators. In 2015, he joined Capgemini Invent as CTO to focus on the organizational and human transformations required for adopting numerous technological innovations such as IoT, cloud, AI, blockchain, 5G, and quantum. Today, Nicolas oversees the Telco, Media, and tech sector, supporting customers in optimizing their business strategy to seize new growth opportunities, streamlining their industrial models, and expanding their technological innovation policy, all while helping them achieve their sustainable development goals.

Sanjiv Agarwal

Global Semiconductor Lead, Capgemini
With about 30 years of experience in the TMT sector, Sanjiv is experienced with enabling digital transformation journey for customers using best-of breed technology solutions and services. In his current role as a global semiconductor industry leader, he is working closely with customers on their journey on producing sustainable technology, driving use of AI/ ML, digital transformation, and global supply chain.