Practice Green Commitment and Create Sustainable Environment
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Novatek passed the LRQA verification on May 10, 2007 and was awarded ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and ISO 45001 Occupational Safety and Health Management System certificates. The current certificate is valid from May 29, 2022 to May 28, 2025. We formulates environmental sustainability policies that focus on daily resource management, promotes energy-saving and carbon-reduction solutions, waste and water management, green procurement practices for office products and mountain and forest protection, continuing to strive for environmental sustainability. |
Environment, safety, health, and energy policy
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Every Novatek employee is expected to regard the environment, safety, health, and energy as his/her responsibility. Novatek is committed to sustainable operation and development, ensuring that the nature and scale of environmental impacts, occupational health, safety risks, and energy usage align with legal requirements. The Company strives to minimize activities that may have a negative impact on the environment, safety, health, and energy usage. To reduce the environmental impact of the Company’s activities, Novatek promises： |
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Waste management
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Novatek is an IC design company engaged in product design and sales. The production of our products is carried out by professional foundries and packaging & testing houses. Waste includes general industrial waste, daily life waste, and industrial waste (chip waste). In the management of chip waste, defective chips produced by outsourced manufacturers are recycled and reused as resources. Waste chips are delivered to professional treatment plants for the recovery of gold, silicon, or other heavy metals. In 2023, the volume of gold recovered reached 61 kg (equivalent to recycling 1.33 million mobile phones). |
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In 2023, the total weight of waste amounted to 395.90 metric tons, with a density of 0.003585 metric tons per NT$million in revenue. The general industrial waste recycling rate reached 58.74%, surpassing the annual target recycling rate of >50%. These waste emission statistics were disclosed and verified by LRQA Taiwan, a third-party impartial institution, meeting the limited assurance level of ISO 14064-1:2018 standard for greenhouse gas inventory (Scope 3). Novatek will continue to use waste reduction and waste re-utilization as strategies. The recycling target for 2024 remains at >50%. In 2023, the waste IC recycling rate exceeded 90%, achieving an annual target recycling rate of >90%. The goal for waste IC recycling in 2024 will also be maintained at >90%. Novatek ensures compliance with legal and contractual requirements for waste disposal and handling processes through regular supplier audits, GPS tracking of transport vehicles, declaration of waste disposal forms, and verification of weighing records. Starting from 2024, the EHS (Environmental, Health, Safety) and Energy Management Committee will review performance quarterly. They will assess the target execution rates and identify any instances of falling behind or inability to achieve targets, followed by formulating corrective action plans. |
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Water management
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Novatek has no manufacturing plants; therefore, its water management mainly involves water for domestic use, air-conditioning system condensate, and cooling water for data centers. In 2023, the water consumption was 95,122 m3, an increase of 1,634 m3 compared to 2022 (water saving rate: -1.75%). The main reasons for the increase were the increase in the number of employees and the increase in electricity demand due to higher temperatures, leading to increased water usage for cooling towers and domestic purposes. Despite the increase in water consumption in 2023, Novatek continues to monitor water resources and implement reduction measures. Based on water usage data from the Hsinchu facility in 2023, the per capita water consumption decreased from 40.92 m3 in 2022 to 39.36 m3 in 2023, representing a per capita water saving rate of 3.81%. The annual water saving plan saved a total of 7,302 m3 (1,000 L) of water, equivalent to the daily water usage of 7,302 households. The target for per capita water consumption in 2024 is a 1% year-over-year decrease, and the performance will be reviewed quarterly by the EHS and Energy Management Committee to assess target achievement and formulate follow-up strategies.
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Annual water saving plan and results |
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Statistics on water resources for the past 4 years |
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Unit: m3 (1,000 L) |
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Statistics on water resources |
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
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| Water Intake (Tap Water) | 80,426 | 98,113 | 93,489 | 95,122 |
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Water Recycled (Rainwater, RO Wastewater) |
- | - | 484 | 696 |
| Total Water Intake | 80,426 | 98,113 | 93,973 | 95,818 |
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Total Water Discharge |
64,341 | 78,490 | 74,791 | 76,098 |
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Total Water Consumption |
15,905 | 19,623 | 19,182 | 19,720 |
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Per Capita Water Usage Note 1 |
40.08 | 46.32 | 40.92 | 39.36 |
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Per Capita Water Saving Rate Note 2 |
- | -15.57% | 11.66% | 3.81% |
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Note 1：Per capita water usage = Average of (Monthly water intake ÷ number of employees in the month) x 12 months Note 2：Per capita water saving rate = (Per capita water usage of the previous year - Per capita water usage of the current year) ÷ Per capita water usage of the previous year Note 3：The data for recycled water volume has been collected since 2022 when the water recycling system was implemented. Note 4：Total water discharge is measured according to the method used by the Hsinchu Science Park wastewater treatment plant. Note 5：The data is limited to Novatek’s operating sites in Hsinchu. |
Green Procurement Environmental Action
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Novatek is committed to green environmental protection and continuously implements energy-saving and carbon-reduction projects in various offices. In addition to purchasing household and office paper products certified by FSC and PEFC Note, the Company promotes environmentally friendly forest certification. It also implements initiatives such as recycling multi-function printer consumables, providing employees with personal stainless steel eco-friendly tableware, and prioritizing the use of paper products for disposable lunch boxes. These green office measures have been implemented and are continuously promoted. Furthermore, Novatek is dedicated to launching new action plans to fulfill its commitment to environmental protection. The achievements in 2023 are as follows： |
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Maintenance of Yushan National Park Trails
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Sponsored the "Sea Viewing Park" of the Hsinchu Air Quality Purification Zone
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Beach Cleanup Event
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Beneficiary feedback of Mountain and Forest Protection
In 2022, the following projects were conducted to improve the safety and service quality of mountaineering in Yushan National Park: Waterproof work boots required for emergency rescue work: Considering that emergency rescue work often involves adverse weather conditions (such as heavy rain or icy roads), the Company provides emergency rescue equipment for on-site mountain rescue personnel at the Paiyun Lodge and the Paiyun Station to ensure the safety and efficiency of their work. Purchase and installation of anti-lost poles on the Yushan North Peak Trail: From the Yushan North Main Entrance to the Yushan North Peak Trail, due to the growing of the Yushan Rhododendron and Juniper shrub, mountain hikers often get lost. In consideration of hiking safety, anti-lost poles were installed at locations where it is easy to get lost after a survey in 2021. However, due to some areas still experiencing hikers getting lost, additional anti-lost poles were purchased and installed in 2022 to reinforce the trail markers and reminders.
Protect Biodiversity
As Novatek strives to fulfill its environmental responsibility and monitor international developments, mitigation of environmental impacts remains a top priority. Novatek incorporates biodiversity risk factors into its assessments and develops response action plans. Through concrete actions, and by leveraging corporate strength, the Company aims to preserve natural ecosystems and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2024, Novatek officially integrated biodiversity into its corporate sustainability strategy, aiming to mitigate the crises and impacts of climate change through the implementation of corporate sustainability.
Promote smart green building initiatives
Aside from receiving the "Green Building Label (Silver Level)" for the Tai Yuan Building in 2021, in 2023, the Company began planning and building the Tainan Research Center in the Tainan Science Park in response to the Company's long-term sustainable development needs. During the new facility’s design phase, Novatek integrated human-centered and low-carbon energy concepts as the guiding principles for the building's planning and design. This approach not only aligns closely with the needs of Novatek’s employees but also follows the international trend toward net-zero emissions. The aim is to establish a green, healthy, and smart sustainable research center to uphold the Company’s green operational policies. Construction of the Tainan Research Center is expected to be completed in 2027.
Gold recovery from scrap ICs
In addition to the reduction and recycling of domestic general waste, we also strengthened chip waste management. Novatek recycles defective IC products and delivers driver IC waste to professional waste treatment operator for gold recovery. In 2023, the volume of gold recovered reached 61 kg (equivalent to recycling 1.33 million mobile phones). The Company transfers the recovered gold back into the gold bump supply chain for production or process metals such as silicon into building materials for water conservancy, building protection dams, and other facilities, thereby achieving the purpose of circular economy, promoting the development of urban mining, reducing the use of raw materials as well as the generation of waste, and minimizing the impact on the environment.
