Environmentally Friendly Management

Recent climate changes have led to severe fluctuations in precipitation with more frequent floods and droughts. External stakeholders are also increasingly concerned about issues related to water resources. To respond to complex water resource issues on a timely basis and effectively integrate prevention, consumption reduction, contingency response, and other management concepts, UMC has successfully completed water risk factor identification and response measures. The UMC Water Resource Management Policy and Commitment was announced in 2015 to serve as our highest guiding principles for water resource management.

Maximize water efficiency, improve the tolerance ability of upstream and downstream value chains to water risks, and promote attention to and conservation of water resources.

1. Introduce water risk management system
2. Develop and utilize diverse water sources
3. Use active management indicators to promote water conservation
4. Cooperate with supply chains to reduce water footprint
5. Provide open and transparent water information
6. Widely promote water education

Given extreme climates, water risks have become key issues facing businesses, and for the semiconductor industry, water resource risk management has become an urgent issue.

With regard to the water resource issue, besides the continuous implementation of water saving measures, UMC has collaborated with the Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University in 2015~2016 to develop the “Water Shortage Warning and Decision Support System for UMC’s Fabs in Hsinchu Science Park and Southern Science Industrial Park.”A seasonal (3 months) water shortage warning system was established to simulate the warning system used in the Water Resources Agency, MOEA. In addition, the seasonal broadcasting data from the Central Weather Bureau was incorporated into the system to offer water supply predictions. With this tool, UMC’s fabs will know in advance about any possible water shortages. By combining with UMC’s water shortage response measures, operation risk can be significantly reduced.

UMC’s first principle of water consumption is designing a water conserving process, followed by recovering water for reuse and highly efficient water management. To effectively reduce water resource consumption, all three principles must be integrated. In addition to conserving water, the company also actively participates in the Science Park Administration’s water management indicator formulation and annual manufacturer water conservation counseling and technology exchanges. To ensure a secure water supply, the company also participates in the Water Resources Agency’s water shortage contingency measures for water source stabilization and eutrophication. Impacted by global climate change, UMC strives to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction activities, and include them in its management policy. Hence water conservation and improvement activities are ongoing to provide further opportunities for company growth.

1. Develop policy and implement effective water conservation.
2. Recover resource, and curb and reduce resource use.
3. Continue to improve and integrate with environmental protection.
4. Through daily management approaches, achieve management outcome.
5. Divert wastewater, implement multiple re-use and optimize water efficiency.
6. Establish water resources management system, compare with water consumption balance diagram and use water rationally.
7. Integration and sharing of technological resources by the Fab Technical Committee.
8. Directly incorporate water conservation measures into regulations for newly constructed fabs.

Due to its past promotion of water conservation, reduction and recycling measures, and its high recovery rate in the manufacturing process, UMC's current water recovery has exceeded the newly increased total water intake. Total water recovery and reuse could reach more than 67% of water intake.

In addition to internal water resource assessment and management and active promotion of water conservation, UMC also serves as a representative in industrial unions/associations. The company cooperates with the government and industrial peers in water resources communication and exchange counseling through the following mechanisms:

1. Water resources communication meetings convened by the Water Resources Agency and manufacturer's associations.
2. Increased water resources adjustment and coordination by manufacturers and the Water Resources Agency during dry season.
3. In cooperation with the Water Resources Agency's promotion of reclaimed water construction, UMC plans to use reclaimed water.
4. Establish a communication platform meeting with the Water Resources Agency to meet future water supply and demand.

UMC has participated annually in water conservation coaching sessions within the Science Park since 2002. As of 2021, the program has conducted a total of 219 cases and coached more than 90 companies, sharing the company’s valuable experiences in water conservation with industry peers to reduce the demand for water resources. For example, in 2021, the potential quantity of water saved after coaching was 268,000 tons per year. In 2020, UMC carried out water conservation coaching sessions and tracked the performance of 10 companies, realizing savings of 130,000 tons of water in 2021.

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