Nature Positive Role of the Technology Sector 2025

Semiconductors – mining for materials TABLE A1Roughly 65% of emissions from semiconductor manufacturing are due to energy use, with the remaining 35% direct emissions from the manufacturing process itself;161 70%+ of direct emissions are fluorinated gases, with half of that driven by PFASs. The impact of fluorinated gases is substantial because of their high GWP , which can be as much as 25,200 times that of CO2 in the case of SF6. A lack of alternatives presents a significant challenge to avoiding PFASs, with the sector predicting that reasonable alternatives are potentially a decade or more away and require extensive research and development.162 At the same time, ongoing considerations in several regulatory jurisdictions about phasing out PFAS will further exacerbate this challenge. Impacts from mining for critical inputs A final and critical area for consideration with semiconductor manufacturing, which permeates across the tech sector value chain, is the extraction of metals and minerals used as inputs. While many metals and metalloids are required, the five most common are silicon, copper, germanium, gallium and arsenic.163 Silicon is by far most utilized, serving as the base material for over 95% of wafers today. This trend is expected to continue until at least 2030.164 While only ~4% of global silicon supply is used for semiconductors,165 silicon is highly material for the industry. Silica mining is typically done through open pit mining, which has various nature impacts. To create space for the mine, vegetation and soil must be cleared, which can lead to habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and erosion. Silica mining also generates silica dust, which has been known to cause respiratory issues if not managed. Water use, both to control the dust and to clean and process the ore, can lead to wastewater contamination that impacts local communities and ecosystems.166 Copper is used for wiring. As with silicon, copper is usually mined through open pit mining and has similar impacts. However, its impacts are typically greater for two reasons. First, one kilogram of silicon requires ~15 kg of feedstock,167 but one kilogram of copper requires 99 kg of feedstock, so substantially more material must be mined per unit of output. Second, the chemical makeup of copper ore is more likely to lead to acid runoff, creating higher potential for pollution.168 Material Applications Mining Method Environmental Impact Considerations Silicon Most utilized base material for >95% of wafersOpen pit mining –Land: Vegetation and soil must be cleared: habitat and biodiversity loss, erosion –Air: Silica dust, causing respiratory issues if not managed –Water: Risk of contamination impacting local communities and ecosystems Copper Used for electrical wiring, circuit boardsVast majority is open pit miningSimilar to silicon, plus some specific concerns – –Water: Potential acid runoff and pollution –Air: Sulphur dioxide from blasting and smelting –GHG: Energy intensive –Waste: Volumes of waste rock and tailings pose contamination risk Germanium, Gallium, ArsenicAlternatives/ supplements to silicon for specific use casesBy-products from zinc, bauxite and copper respectivelySimilar to copper Bauxite By-products supply (Aluminium)Open pit mining Similar to copper Zinc, LeadBy-products supply (Germanium, Gallium, Arsenic)Underground mining –Land and air: Lower need for land rehabilitation and airborne dust due to confined impact –Water: Potential formation of mine water reservoirs containing toxic contaminants –Air: Can release trapped gasses from the ore such as methane –Social: Risk for underground miners Gold By-products supply (Germanium, Gallium, Arsenic)Open pit mining (except deep gold) –Pollution: Chemical pollution from cyanide and mercury use –Land: Deforestation (especially in tropical regions) Nature Positive: Role of the Technology Sector 58