SK Siltron, First in Wafer Industry to Obtain 'Product Water Footprint' Certification

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] SK Siltron, a semiconductor wafer manufacturing company, announced on the 21st that it has become the first in the industry to obtain the Carbon Trust's 'Product Water Footprint' certification. Earlier this year, SK Siltron had already received the 'Product Carbon Footprint' certification for all its products, and this time it acquired an additional certification.

The Carbon Trust is a non-profit organization established by the UK government to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions. It comprehensively measures carbon emissions and water usage throughout the entire process from pre-manufacturing stages to product completion, and grants certification to indicate a reduced environmental footprint if the product meets international audit standards.

Through obtaining the 'Product Water Footprint' certification, SK Siltron was recognized not only for reducing carbon emissions but also for efforts to reduce water usage across the entire value chain, from raw and subsidiary materials for semiconductor wafers to all pre-wafer manufacturing processes. SK Siltron improved utility facilities to increase the use of recycled water within its processes, expanding the applications of recycled water and saving approximately 120,000 tons of industrial water. The amount of water saved by SK Siltron is equivalent to the amount used by about 1,600 residents of Gumi city for one year.

Previously, on the 27th of last month, SK Siltron recorded a 98% recycling rate of waste generated during the manufacturing process and received the 'Zero Waste to Landfill' Gold certification from global safety certification company UL (Underwriters Laboratories). In addition, SK Siltron participates in the RE 100 campaign and has declared net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, among other global initiatives.

SK Siltron is regarded as setting industry standards for measuring carbon emissions and water usage within products through its proactive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management activities. It also supports the adoption of ESG management by its partners based on RBA (Responsible Business Alliance) evaluation criteria, thereby leaving a model case of ESG management in the global semiconductor wafer industry.

Jang Yong-ho, President of SK Siltron, stated, "As a result of sincere and continuous efforts based on our ESG management strategy, meaningful achievements have been made especially in the environmental and social sectors. Through the advancement of ESG management activities, we will become a company that contributes to a better future for humanity and the progress of technology."