Practice Green Commitment and Create Sustainable Environment

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, 2025 to May 28, 2028. 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

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

Greenhouse gas emissions from waste

Novatek is an IC design company primarily engaged in chip design and sales, while all manufacturing processes are outsourced to professional wafer foundries and semiconductor packaging and testing service providers. The waste generated by the Company mainly consists of general industrial waste, household waste, and industrial waste (chip waste). With respect to chip waste management, defective outsourced semiconductor products are recycled and reutilized through resource recovery practices. Driver IC waste is delivered to qualified waste treatment contractors for the recovery and reuse of gold, silicon, and other heavy metals. The recovered resources may be reintroduced into the supply chain for manufacturing purposes (such as gold bump production), while silicon and other mineral materials may be processed by professional treatment companies into construction 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. In 2025, gold recovery volume reached 77 kilograms, equivalent to the amount of gold contained in approximately 1.76 million mobile phones.

 

To ensure that outsourced waste transportation, treatment procedures, and statistical data comply with applicable regulations and contractual requirements, Novatek has implemented multiple audit and control measures, including regular supplier audits, GPS tracking verification of waste transportation vehicles, waste manifest triplicate declaration reviews, and weighbridge record reconciliation. Since 2024, the implementation status, target achievement performance, and areas requiring improvement have been reviewed quarterly by the Environment, Safety, Health, and Energy Management Committee, based on which subsequent improvement actions and response measures are formulated.

In 2024, the total weight of waste amounted to 473.61 metric tons. In 2025, Novatek generated a total of 517.79 metric tons of waste, with a waste intensity of 0.005146 metric tons per NT$ millions of revenue. Among this total, the recycling rate for general industrial waste reached 68%, achieving the annual target of greater than 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). In 2025, the total generation of general industrial waste amounted to 65.76 metric tons, representing a slight increase of 0.69 metric tons (approximately 1.06%) compared with the previous year. Novatek will continue to use waste reduction and waste re-utilization as strategies. The recycling target for 2026 remains at >50%. In 2025, the waste IC recycling rate exceeded 90%, achieving an annual target recycling rate of >90%. The goal for waste IC recycling in 2026 will also be maintained at >90%. All categories of waste are handled through off-site treatment and disposed of by qualified contractors.

 

Performance of waste management implementation

Category

Execution Details

Annual Results

General Industrial
Waste Recycling

Enhance the recycling rate of general industrial waste through waste segregation and recycling measures to promote resource reutilization, with an annual recycling rate target of >50%.

2025 Recycling Rate: 68%

Chip Industrial Waste Recycling

Outsourced manufacturing contractors retain defective products and periodically return them to Novatek Microelectronics Corporation, which centrally transfers the waste to qualified waste treatment facilities for the recovery of gold, silicon, and other heavy metals. Recovered materials are subsequently reused or processed for resource recovery in accordance with treatment facility reports. The annual recycling rate target is >90%.

2025 Recycling Rate: > 90%;
Gold Recovery Volume: 77 kg

Reuse of Packaging
Materials

Outsourced contractors utilize reusable packaging materials, such as conductive containers, for the transportation of semi-finished products, thereby reducing the use of single-use packaging materials and enhancing packaging circularity.

2025 Carbon Reduction Benefit: 39.09 metric tons CO2e (attributable to the reduction in single-use packaging consumption)

Policy Review and
Improvement

Regularly review the appropriateness and relevance of related policies, and continuously improve implementation practices and performance indicators based on review results.

The annual management review has been completed, confirming that the current policies and implementation programs remain effective systematic control mechanisms.

 

Statistics of waste disposal in 2025

Category

Type of wasteNote1 Disposal method

Amount disposed in 2024

(Metric tons)

Amount disposed in 2025

(Metric tons)

RatioNote2
General industrial waste General waste

Incineration

(including energy recovery)

19.58 21.04  32.00%
Waste paper, iron/alloy, containers, waste light sources Recycled 45.49 44.72  68.00%
Total 65.07 65.76  100%
Density (metric tons/NT$ million) 0.000633 0.000654   
General industrial waste recycling rate >50% 69.91% 68.00%   

 

  • Note 1:The data coverage is limited to the two operating sites of Novatek located in the Hsinchu Science Park- R&D and Technology Building (General Garbage: Ministry of Environment Waste Code D-1801, D-0701, D-0799). Waste weight information is sourced from the Ministry of Environment’s Waste Declaration System.
  • Note 2:Ratio = Amount disposed by waste type/Total amount disposed

 


Category

Type of wasteNote1

Disposal method

Amount disposed in 2024 Note 2

 (Metric tons)

Amount disposed in 2025 Note 2

 (Metric tons)

Daily life waste

Waste from daily life of employees

Incinerated

(including energy recovery)

359.03 411.78
Total 359.03 411.78

 

  • Note 1:The data covers five operating sites of Novatek in Taiwan, including Hsinchu, Taipei and Tainan offices. The average production of daily waste per person in 2024 was 1.373 kg (Waste from daily life of employees: Ministry of Environment Waste Code H-0002)
  • Note 2:Amount disposed= Number of employees x Working days x The average production of daily waste per person x 1/3 (The Daily working hours is calculated as 8 hours)

 

 

Category Type of waste Disposal method

Amount disposed in 2024

(Metric tons)

Amount disposed in 2025

(Metric tons)

RatioNote1

Amount of gold recycled (kg)

Mobile phonesNote2 (Set)

Industrial waste Waste driver chip Outsourced disposal  25.87 25.19 

62.38%

77

1,760,934
Waste SoCs Outsourced disposal  23.64  15.06

37.42%

Not applicable Not applicable 
Total 49.51  40.25 

100.00%

 

 
Density (metric tons/NT$ million) 0.000482  0.000400       

Recycling and Reuse Rate

(Amount of gold recycled/Total amount)%

0.16%  0.19%       
Waste chip recycling rate (>90%)   >90%   >90%      

 

  • Note 1:Ratio = Amount disposed by waste type/Total amount disposed
  • Note 2:According to a report by the Ministry of Environment, approximately 1 kg of gold can be extracted from 23,000 mobile phones
  • Note 3:Waste weight information is sourced from the Ministry of Environment’s Waste Declaration System, with waste classified under codes E-0217 and D-2527.
  • Note 4:The waste is sourced from the recycling of production scrap generated by upstream suppliers and is disposed of off-site through qualified and authorized waste treatment service providers.

 

 

Gold recovery (circular economy diagram)

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Circular Economy Initiatives

As an IC design-focused company, Novatek primarily relies on outsourced manufacturing. When semi-finished and finished products are returned from contract manufacturers, the Company faces challenges related to the handling of packaging materials in its daily operations. Novatek has long placed a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. To prevent packaging materials from being discarded as waste, the Company has implemented reusable packaging recovery initiatives to transform these materials into valuable resources. Through close communication and collaboration with suppliers, Novatek has launched sustainable circular reuse projects, including the repeated reuse of tray carriers, as well as circular reuse programs for wafer boats, black conductive boxes, and empty packaging containers. Based on calculations of the recycled and reused packaging materials in 2025, the Company effectively reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 39.09 metric tons of CO2e. Novatek continues to actively build a sustainable resource management system to promote efficient material utilization and reduce environmental impact. This initiative not only demonstrates the Company’s commitment to environmental protection but also highlights its proactive approach to advancing green manufacturing.

 

Sustainability project

Program description

2025 Reduction Benefits

Resource Circularity Network Program

Reusable tray units were repeatedly reused through “prototype reuse” within the original production process.

16.00 metric tons of CO2e

Replacement of Single-Use Cartons with Conductive Containers

Product packaging materials were transitioned from single-use cartons to reusable conductive containers.

23.09 metric tons of CO2e

Total

39.09 metric tons of CO2e

 
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Water management

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 2025, the Company’s total water withdrawal amounted to 120,876 cubic meters, achieving a water-saving rate of 8.98%, thereby surpassing the 2025 target of maintaining a water-saving rate above 4%. Starting in 2024, water withdrawal statistics have been expanded to include the Taipei and Tainan offices, as well as global subsidiary offices. The overall increase in total water withdrawal is mainly due to workforce growth and rising electricity demand for R&D computing, compounded by elevated ambient temperatures, which led to increased water consumption in cooling towers and for general domestic use. Novatek continues to monitor water resource usage and has implemented various water conservation measures. The annual water-saving program saved a total of 11,929 cubic meters (1,000 L) of water, equivalent to the daily water consumption of 11,929 households. In response to the continued growth in operational and R&D demands, Novatek has set a new target beginning in 2025 to achieve an annual water-saving rate of >4%. Performance will be reviewed quarterly by the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Energy Management Committee to evaluate target execution rates, identify potential delays or failures to meet targets, and formulate corresponding mitigation measures.

t targets, and formulate corresponding mitigation measures.

 

  • Note: According to the "Research on Water Consumption Control for Residential and Office Buildings" conducted by the Architecture and Building Research Institute of the Ministry of the Interior, the estimated daily water consumption per person is 250 L. For general residential buildings, the water consumption is calculated based on an average of four persons per household, which is equivalent to a daily water consumption of 1,000 L (1 m3) per household.

Annual water saving plan and results

Water saving plan Improvement measures Results
1.Activation of water recycling system
  • The Tai Yuan Building in Zhubei was awarded the Green Building Label (Silver Level) by the Ministry of the Interior in 2021 and activated the water recycling system.
  • In 2025, the Hsinchu Science Park and Tai Yuan Building promoted the installation of wastewater recovery systems for RO drinking water and water purification units, with the reclaimed water utilized for routine irrigation purposes.
In 2025, a total of 5,604 m3 of water was recycled by collecting rainwater and RO water for use in gardening and irrigation, improving the overall water efficiency.
2.Water quality improvement for the cooling tower in the Technology Building Replacing chemical treatment with physical treatment and using long-fiber filters to reduce environmental impact and lower the water discharge required for chemical treatment; the water quality improvement project for the cooling tower was completed in September 2022. In 2025, due to the implementation of improvement measures, discharge from the cooling tower decreased by 4,851 m3, resulting in a water saving rate of 54.27%.
3.Installation of water-saving toilets As water-saving efficiency continues to improve, we will gradually replace the toilets in our operating sites with gold-level water-saving models (60 units in total). The retrofit project was completed and commissioned in 2023. In 2025, resulting in water savings of 378.5 m3, calculated based on a water saving of 1.2 L per use.
4.Recycling of Headquarters Fish Pond Wastewater for Irrigation In 2024, the wastewater from the landscape fish pond in the headquarters is recycled for irrigation of the west-side greenbelt, reducing water usage for irrigation. Based on twice-daily sprinkler irrigation, the initiative is expected to save a total of 1,095 m3 in 2025.
Total water saving 11,929 cubic meters
 

Statistics on water resources for the past 4 years

Unit: m3 (1,000 L)

Statistics on water resources 

2022 2023 2024 2025
Water Intake (Tap Water) 93,489 95,122 114,587 115,272

Water Recycled

(Rainwater, RO Wastewater)

484 696 1,066 5,604
Total Water Intake 93,973 95,818 115,653 120,876

Total Water Discharge

74,791 76,098 91,670 92,218

Total Water Consumption

19,182 19,720 23,983 28,658

Water saving volume

4,624 7,302 8,842 11,929
 Water saving rateNote 1 4.69% 7.08% 7.10% 8.98%
  • Note 1:Per capita water usage = Average of (Monthly water intake ÷ number of employees in the month) x 12 months
  • Note 2:The Company began implementing a water recycling system in 2021, and data on recycled water volumes has been collected starting from 2022.
  • Note 3:Total water discharge is measured according to the method used by the Hsinchu Science Park wastewater treatment plant.
  • Note 4:Prior to 2023, the data scope covered the Hsinchu Office only. Starting in 2024, water withdrawal figures include the Taipei and Tainan offices, as well as overseas sites. For the Taipei and Tainan offices, water usage is estimated based on the proportion of office area relative to the main water meter or the building management's central meter. As the overseas sites do not have dedicated water meters, water consumption is estimated using a per capita approach—0.03 cubic meters per working day per person—based on the water balance chart recommended by the Science Park Administration.

Statistics on water intensity for the past 4 years

Year

Total water resource consumption (m3 (1,000 L))

Total consolidated revenue

(NT$million)

Total consolidated revenue

(NT$million)

2022 93,973 109,957 0.7248
2023 95,818 110,429 0.8677
2024 114,587 102,788 1.1148
2025 115,272 100,663 1.1451

 

  • Note: Water resource consumption data prior to 2023 covers the Hsinchu plant. Starting in 2024, the scope will include global operations.

 

Green Procurement Environmental Action

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 to support environmentally friendly forest certification, the Company also promotes notebook usage reduction, recycling and reuse of multi-function printer consumables, provision of personal stainless steel eco-friendly tableware for employees, and prioritization of paper products for disposable lunch boxes. These green office measures have been implemented and continuously promoted. Furthermore, Novatek is dedicated to launching new action plans to fulfill its commitment to environmental protection. The achievements in 2025 are as follows:

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Maintenance of Yushan National Park Trails

Sponsorship

 

Since 2007, an annual budget of NT$500,000 has been donated for trail maintenance, for a total of NT$9.5 million over 19 years. This sustained effort is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable preservation of Taiwan's high-mountain forest ecosystems. In 2025, it received the “Team National Park SDGs Partner” recognition from the National Park Service, Ministry of the Interior. Beginning in 2026, in addition to maintaining existing trail infrastructure, the Company will further expand into biodiversity initiatives through Formosan black bear conservation and environmental education programs.

 

Action plans

 

  • Since 2007, Novatek has donated NT$500,000 for the maintenance of Yushan National Park trails every year, maintaining trail facilities, cleaning the environment and promoting mountain hiking safety, and participating in public welfare activities such as ecological conservation and environmental education. The scope of the sponsorship includes:

(1) Facilities such as hiking trails and mountain cabins in Yushan National Park.

(2) Sponsoring the promotion of Yushan National Park-related activities.

 

  • Over the years, Novatek has safeguarded the safety of 772,880 hikers from around the world.
  • A total of 731 Novatek employees, including family members (804 in total), have successfully completed the challenge of getting to the top of Yushan and have been educated on the concept of ecological environment conservation.
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Sponsored the "Sea Viewing Park" of the Hsinchu Air Quality Purification Zone

Sponsorship

 

Starting from 2022, volunteers of Novatek regularly visit the "Sea Viewing Park" of the Hsinchu Air Quality Purification Zone, where they have carried out environment cleaning work for 4 consecutive years. In 2025, four sessions of volunteering work were held for this purpose.

 

Action plans

 

  • Novatek has sponsored the "Sea Viewing Park" of the Hsinchu Air Quality Purification Zone for 4consecutive years. This area has a total of 69 plants with a carbon sink capacity of 4.237 metric tons of CO2e, which can naturally purify 6,007 metric tons of CO2e annually. The Company has also voluntarily expanded its maintenance and sponsorship area beyond the original one-hectare zone, demonstrating its commitment to promoting environmental sustainability and preserving the natural ecology through the joint efforts of the Company and its volunteers.
  • In 2025, 24 volunteer hours were contributed, with a total of 87 volunteer hours invested over the years.
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Beach Cleanup Event

Sponsorship

 

Novatek Foundation organized 1 Beach Cleanup event in 2025.

 

Action plans

 

  • Under the one-on-one guidance of volunteers from Novatek, visually impaired students from Taichung participated in a coastal cleanup activity at the Nanliao Coastal Environmental Protection Park in Hsinchu, collecting more than 3 kilograms of waste. Through environmental education and hands-on action, the program fostered proper awareness and attitudes toward environmental conservation among students while further expanding positive social impact.
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Environmental Education Programs for Rural Elementary Schools

Sponsorship

 

In 2025, environmental education programs for children were implemented in rural elementary schools in Hsinchu County and Tainan City, comprising a total of 110 environmental courses, exhibition-based teaching activities, and public screening sessions, with total sponsorship funding amounting to NT$2.18 million. Through collaboration with civic organizations to advance environmental education and biodiversity awareness, the Company obtained the “Biodiversity Achievement Certification” issued by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture.

 

Action plan

 

  • Since 2022, the Novatek Foundation has maintained a long-term partnership with the Society of Wilderness to continuously promote environmental education programs for children in rural elementary schools in Hsinchu County.
  • Since 2025, Novatek has collaborated with the Chi Po-lin Foundation to launch a one-academic-year environmental education program across five schools in Tainan, featuring exhibitions and educational activities centered on five major themes: mountains, rivers, oceans, cities, and rural communities. Program components included thematic exhibitions, instructional courses, student ambassador initiatives, extended learning activities, hometown poster design competitions, educational field trips, and on-campus public screenings. Topics covered climate-related issues, biodiversity, forest conservation, water pollution, environmentally friendly agriculture, and green energy.
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Spotlight
Environment Spotlight

Beneficiary feedback of Mountain and Forest Protection

Novatek has been maintaining facilities such as trails and mountain houses in Yushan National Park for 19 consecutive years. 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.

Jing-Ru Hsu Technical Specialist /Park Service Team of Yushan National Park Headquarters

Protect Biodiversity

Since 2024, Novatek Microelectronics has formally incorporated biodiversity into its corporate sustainability strategy. Through the implementation of corporate sustainability responsibilities, the Company seeks to mitigate the risks and impacts arising from climate change. Furthermore, Novatek Microelectronics signed a memorandum of understanding with Yushan National Park Headquarters. Beginning in 2026, in addition to maintaining existing trail infrastructure conservation efforts, both parties will expand their collaboration into core biodiversity initiatives, including species conservation programs for the Formosan black bear and environmental education advocacy activities. Please refer to the ESG website for the "Biodiversity Declaration".

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. Environmental responsibility has been integrated into the architectural design, with the Company aiming to obtain multiple certifications, including LEED, WELL, Smart Building, Green Building, and Energy Efficiency Label certifications. Through façade shading and airflow guidance, the design significantly reduces energy consumption, with an expected energy-saving efficiency of 25%. A 360 kW solar panel system will be installed, generating approximately 2 GWh of electricity annually and reducing carbon emissions by 988 metric tons. The water-saving features are expected to conserve 1,200 metric tons of water per year. Construction of the Tainan Research Center is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2027.In response to market and customer demand for advanced process products, the Company began planning the construction of a Research and Computing Center in 2024 at the Tongluo Science Park in Miaoli to expand computing capacity. The new data center is being designed with the goal of obtaining both the Taiwan Green Building Label and U.S. LEED certification. It will adopt high-efficiency equipment to meet the requirements of advanced semiconductor processes, enhance the computing and storage capabilities for IC design and R&D, and support off-site backup under the Business Continuity Plan (BCP). This initiative aims to strengthen global competitiveness and demonstrate the Company’s commitment to ESG and sustainable development.

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 2025, the volume of gold recovered reached 77 kg (equivalent to recycling 1.76 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.