by Michael Graham Richard, Source: TreeHugger

From 2007 Baseline

In many ways, Intel has been a model manufacturer. They’ve not only been working hard to make their products more energy-efficient, but they’ve also pretty consistently ranked among the companies that use the most clean energy (for more details, see Intel #1 on National EPA Green Power List With 2.5 Billion kWhs), and thus emit fewer greenhouse gases per unit of energy used than other similar companies.

So it’s not too surprising that in Intel’s 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report, we see that this trend continues.

Here’s a list of Intel’s goals and whether they achieved them or not:

  • The reduction of water use per chip below 2007 levels by 2012: Water use on a per chip basis was up 12 percent over the 2007 baseline. This was due mainly to the increasing complexity of manufacturing processes.
  • The reduction of absolute global-warming gas footprint by 20 percent by 2012 from 2007 levels: This goal was exceeded, with Intel achieving a 60 percent absolute reduction in GHG emissions.
  • The reduction of energy consumption per chip 5 percent per year from 2007 through 2012: A reduction in energy use per chip was not realized, however absolute energy use in 2011 was 8 percent below total energy use in 2007.
  • The reduction of chemical waste generation per chip by 10 percent by 2012 from 2007 levels: Chemical waste on a per chip basis increased 54 percent over the 2007 baseline. This was due mainly to the increasing complexity of manufacturing processes.
  • The recycling of 80 percent of chemical and solid waste generated per year: Intel recycled 87 percent of solid waste and 81 percent of chemical waste in 2011.
  • Achievement in engineering and design milestones to ensure that Intel products maintain the energy-efficiency lead in the market for the next two product generations: Intel met product-related energy efficiency goals and set new product energy-efficiency targets as part of the new 2020 goals.

As you can see, it’s a mixed bag, but Intel’s transparency must be commended. Too many companies would hide their misses and only highlight publicly their successes. The most important thing is that they keep trying to improve, and that on big goals – like the greenhouse gas targets – they more than delivered. They were aiming for a 20% reduction from the 2007 level and achieved a 60% reduction! Few can say as much, including whole countries that are signatory to the Kyoto treaty.