The Environmental Impact Of Using Plastic To Make Microchips

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CEO of PragmatIC Semiconductor, Scott White is an experienced serial entrepreneur leading his sixth technology venture at PragmatIC.

www.forbes.com/, Apr. 19, 2023 – 

Technology is increasingly touted as the solution to countless environmental challenges, from carbon sequestration to materials recycling. But, as has been widely documented, the silicon chips underpinning these cutting-edge solutions have their own–not insignificant–carbon impact.

So, how do we ensure that technology isn't creating more carbon than it's removing? And can plastic chips be part of the solution?

It's no secret that silicon-based semiconductor production is not particularly environmentally friendly. In addition to using harmful chemicals and gasses such as perfluorocarbons (PFCs), the industry also requires vast amounts of water and energy to get the chips out of the door.

Take Taiwan-based TSMC, for example: As one of the world's largest semiconductor producers, it naturally has a large energy footprint. In 2020, it announced it was switching to renewable wind energy to limit its environmental impact. But increased energy demand, fuelled by commercial production of its leading-edge three-nanometre chips, exceeded any gains made from green energy; by 2022, its usage was expected to exceed 7% of Taiwan's total power consumption, more than the city of Taipei.

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