Sustainable Silicon:

TSMC’s Innovative Model of Environmental Stewardship

Joanna Wang　/　photos courtesy of TSMC　/　tr. by Jonathan Barnard

May 2026

中文

TSMC is ushering in a more resilient future where high-tech industry and the natural world thrive together.

It cannot be overstated how important water is to semiconductor wafer fabs. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has set a goal of becoming “water positive” by 2030, meaning that the company will replenish more water than it consumes. Striving to maximize the efficient use of every drop, it is aiming to create a win–win for both technology and the environment.

Making wafers with reclaimed water?

Semiconductor manufacturing places rigorous demands on water quality. According to TSMC, the water used in its advanced manufacturing processes cannot exceed one milliliter of impurities in the equivalent of 1,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water. Using reclaimed water for advanced semiconductor processes, therefore, poses huge technical challenges.

Since 2015, TSMC had been running simulations on how to best make use of reclaimed wastewater on its production lines. In 2022, TSMC’s dedicated water reclamation plant in the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) officially began operations, marking the first example of the use of reclaimed industrial water in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

To ensure high chip yield rates, TSMC employs nearly 1,000 personnel at each plant to conduct strict quality-control measures. Starting with its mature process fabs, the company introduced reclaimed water into its five-nanometer and three-nanometer advanced processes in 2024. It was a major milestone of green innovation for the industry.

TSMC is a world leader in successfully reusing reclaimed industrial water in advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Saving and sharing water

TSMC’s STSP facility, together with government-managed water reclamation plants in Tainan’s Yongkang and Anping districts, can supply approximately 67,000 cubic meters of water daily to the company’s STSP fabs. To date, TSMC’s Tainan-based fabs have used 19.65 million cubic meters of reclaimed water, cutting their reliance on city water by 31%.

Furthermore, TSMC and the Tainan City Government have pioneered the use in Taiwan of a “reclaimed water credits” mechanism, whereby reclaimed water is supplied to enterprises close to water reclamation plants in exchange for TSMC paying a premium on water from the regular supply. This enables flexible allocation of water supply within the region while reducing the carbon footprint of water distribution.

During the severe drought in Southern Taiwan in 2023, TSMC maintained stable operations by drawing from diverse water sources. Balancing the need for industrial competitiveness with the public’s right to water, the approach proved to be a win–win for TSMC and the region.

TSMC’s Southern Taiwan Science Park water reclamation plant.

Greening fabs

Beyond advancing water efficiency, TSMC has also been pursuing ecological restoration through its sustainability initiatives. TSMC has fostered eco-friendly environments tailored to the characteristics of its various facility locations. Over 200 animal species, including 12 protected species, have already been recorded across its campuses.

At its Central Taiwan Science Park fab in Taichung, TSMC has established green corridors, ponds, and near-natural forests to promote biodiversity. In 2025, it became Taiwan’s first corporation to shelter an endangered species—a fish, the Central Taiwan gudgeon (Squalidus banarescui)—onsite. What’s more, TSMC has provided habitat for fireflies and bees, with the latter producing honey for the company’s exclusive brand. These efforts have brought a natural vitality to a high-tech arena once perceived as cold and rigid.

A media tour of the water treatment facilities at JASM’s Kumamoto plant.

Going global with green strategies

TSMC is now bringing its experience in technological innovation and ecological corporate governance to the world as its global expansion progresses.

By partnering with local governments and communities, as well as academic institutions, TSMC has been implementing site-specific water management plans overseas. In Kumamoto, Japan, its joint-venture subsidiary JASM applies various groundwater restoration strategies, including the flooding of paddy fields. By 2024, replenished water volume there had exceeded the amount of water consumed at the facility by more than three times. Meanwhile, at its production base in Arizona, USA, a water reclamation plant project has been initiated to strengthen the fab’s operational resilience under arid climatic conditions.

Starting with a concern for each and every drop of water, TSMC is bringing its sustainability experience to the world, charting a practical and actionable path for high-tech industry to coexist in harmony with nature.