Intel Reduces GHG Emissions by 60% Under 2007 Baseline

Intel, a world leader in computing innovation, has provided public reports on its environmental, health and safety performance since 1994 and produced an annual Corporate Responsibility Report since 2001. 2012 is no exception. This year's report focuses on three main factors - environmental, governance and social - and records the company's success in achieving goals set in previous years.

"At Intel, corporate responsibility is a crucial component to the overall growth of our business," said Michael Jacobson, Intel's director of corporate responsibility. "From product to customer to employee to environment, corporate responsibility allows Intel to have a greater and more influential impact on industries, communities and the global economy."

What follows is a breakdown of this revealing and encouraging report.

Environmental Factors

According to the U.S. EPA, Intel is the largest purchaser of green power in the country and has made significant investments in energy-saving projects in its operations. The company focused on several environmental elements to reduce its carbon footprint including climate change, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, air emissions reduction, energy-efficient performance and product ecology, and the application of technology to environmental challenges. In the case that a goal was not achieved, new benchmarks were determined for 2020.

Specific environmental goals and performances include:

• 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.

Governance Factors
In 2011, the company continued to take steps to improve transparency by increasing disclosure related to its corporate contributions, as well as strengthening its ethics and compliance reporting mechanisms. This year, Intel plans on increasing engagement with key stakeholders on human rights and will continue to assess risk and execute training and ethics programs globally, ensuring that the company and its representatives act with uncompromised integrity.

Social Factors
In terms of social factors, the report focused on employees, supply chain and community:

• Employees: Intel succeeded in improving the organizational health of the company, measured by its Organizational Health Survey, as well as maintaining its world-class safety performance by achieving a target safety recordable rate of 0.40. The company intends to further drive key improvements and hire at full availability for technical positions underrepresented minorities and women.


• Supply Chain: In 2011, Intel further expanded the number of third-party supplier audits and continued to integrate corporate responsibility metrics and considerations into management systems, scorecards, training processes, and award systems.


• Community: Intel intends to establish more education programs in 100 countries and grow the education PC market to 100 million units by 2014, maintain at least a 40 percent employee volunteerism rate globally, and provide ICT training to 1 million healthcare workers in developing countries by the end of 2015 through the Intel World Ahead 1Mx15 Health Program.

As Paul S. Otellini, president and chief executive officer of Intel, said: "For Intel, corporate responsibility is simply good business."

To see the full report, click here.