The European semiconductor industry takes a leading and proactive approach to Environment Safety and Health (ESH) responsibilities. The European industry has an excellent ESH performance record and has repeatedly set and met voluntary emission reduction targets. It maintains a safe and healthy work environment for its employees and promotes safe and health conscious working practices. European manufacturing sites have audited environmental management systems in place such as ISO 14001. The industry promotes international cooperation regarding chemical management, utilizing scientific evidence and health assessment as the basis for effective workplace protection.
The ESH Committee coordinates the activities of the association in these areas. The ESIA ESH Committee has groups dealing with PFCs, PFAS, chemical management and REACH implementation, RoHS and other EU legislations.
ESIA is also proud to play a role as a member of the ESH Committee to the World Semiconductor Council. Through this unique forum, the global semiconductor industry is working together on collaborative approaches to resource conservation and many ESH issues. The semiconductor industry's PFC global reduction goal programme and the PFOS agreement are worthy achievements of this body.
In addition, ESIA participates in the WSC's annual International Semiconductor ESH conference (ISESH), a global forum that facilitates sharing of innovative ideas on new ESH technology practices and best practice exchange amongst ESH professionals.
UN’s Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals
The semiconductor sector supports the UN Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption with many companies from the sector participating in the world’s largest global corporate sustainability initiative. By incorporating the ten principles of the Global Compact into company strategies, policies and procedures, companies are continuing to strive for excellence within their business operations, working cultures and upholding their basic responsibilities to people and our planet[1]. The Global Compact covers responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and provides a universal language for corporate responsibility globally with over 8,000 companies and 4,000 non-business participants based in over 160 countries.
In 2015, all Member States of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all by laying out a path to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and the protection of our planet by 2030. At the heart of “Agenda 2030” are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the most important economic, social, environmental and governance challenges of our time[2]. Semiconductor companies are also invested in playing their part to advance these 17 SDGs and report on their progress annually. Companies implement key SDGs into their sustainable policies and programmes in their operations and supply chains and through engagements with stakeholders.
Chair
Pascal Roquet - STMicroelectronics
March 2023: ESIA / SEMI Joint statement on the Revision of the F-Gas Regulation
November 2022: ESIA Position Paper on Effectively banning products produced, extracted, or harvested with forced labour
May 2022: ESIA Position Paper on the Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D)
September 2021: ESIA Brochure on the European Semiconductor Industry: a strong contributor to reducing Carbon Emissions
July 2021: ESIA Feedback to the Public Consultation on RoHS exemption 4(f), (Mercury in other discharge lamps for special purposes) Annex III
July 2021: ‘Fit for 55’: delivering the EU's 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality
June 2021: ESIA Input to the targeted REACH revision Inception Impact Assessment (IIA) Online Consultation
October 2020: Commission Staff Working Document on Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
October 2020: Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: Towards a Toxic-Free Environment
October 2020: European Chemicals Agency webinar on Restriction of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under REACH
September 2020: Industry letter to Commission President von der Leyen: “The notification deadline for the SCIP database must be postponed”
March 2020: New Circular Economy Action Plan
March 2020: European Climate Law
February 2020: ESIA Submission to Öko-Institut Stakeholder Consultation on Diantimony Trioxide Annex II Dossier – RoHS
January 2020: ESIA and RoHS Umbrella Industry Project: RoHS Directive Dossier Application for Renewal of Exemption 7a to the European Commission
January 2020: ESIA and RoHS Umbrella Industry Project: RoHS Directive Dossier Application for Renewal of Exemptions 15 & 15a to the European Commission
December 2019: The European Green Deal
November 2019: ESIA Submission to Öko-Institut Stakeholder Consultation on a “Study to support the review of the list of restricted substances and to assess a new exemption request under RoHS 2 (Pack 15)”
September 2019: ESIA Input to European Commission Renewal of Exemption 4f – Mercury for Special Purpose Lamps
July 2019: ECHA Guidelines on: “How to comply with REACH Restriction 71, guideline for users of NMP (1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone)”
June 2019: EU Environmental Council Conclusions: “Towards a Sustainable Chemicals Policy Strategy of the Union”
June 2019: ESIA Response to ECHA Online Consultation: Call for evidence on lead and its compounds, related to scientific evaluation of health-based exposure limits at the workplace
May 2019: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Volume 3: Industrial Processes and Product Use, Chapter 6: Electronics Industry Emissions
April 2019: U.N. Stockholm Convention on POPs, 9th Conference of the Parties Decision: Listing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds
December 2018: Joint Industry Statement on Methodology to Ban Substances under the RoHS Directive
December 2018: ESIA Response to Öko-Institut Consultation on Methodology to Ban Substances under the RoHS Directive (Pack 15)
June 2018: ESIA & MMTA Joint Industry Response on Indium Phosphide: RoHS Pack 15 Study to Support the Review of the List of Restricted Substances
June 2018: ESIA & BeST Comments on Beryllium: RoHS Pack 15 Study to Support the Review of the List of Restricted Substances
March 2018: Joint Industry Statement on RoHS Exemptions: Call for a Realistic Timetable for Transitioning to New Lighting Technologies
February 2018: Semiconductor Industry Statement to the U.N. Stockholm Convention POP-Review Committee on the Phase-Out of PFOS
November 2017: Joint Association Position on Joint Association Position on UAE Regulation to Control Hazardous Materials in Electrical & Electronic Devices
January 2017: ESIA Views on the European Commission Chemical Regulation Evaluation (‘REACH REFIT’)
July 2016: ESIA & Cross Association Umbrella Project: Initial Feedback on RoHS Pack 9 Exemptions Assessment Report
June 2015: ESIA Submission to ECHA Consultation on Restriction proposal for PFOA, its salts and related substances
February 2015: ESIA position on the WHO recommendation to add Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) to Schedule I of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances
November 2014: ESIA Brochure: “Semiconductors at the heart of energy efficiency”
April 2013: ESIA position paper on continued access to HFC compounds essential for European semiconductor manufacturing
January 2009: ESIA Brochure: “Enabling sustainable living in 21st century in Europe”
May 2008: WSC Presentation: “The Semiconductor Industry Contribution to Saving Energy and Protecting the Global Environment”
Click here to read about PFC gases
Click here to read about chemical management
Click here to read about safety & health indicators
Click here to read about environmental resource efficiency achievements
Click here to read about responsible minerals sourcing
Click here to read about the EU taxonomy framework
[1] United Nations Global Compact. The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles
[2] Sustainable Development Goals. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300