On the afternoon of January 10, the Graduate Institute of Development Studies at the College of Social Sciences invited TSMC’s Corporate Sustainability Manager, Lily-Jung Chang, and Environmental Protection and Safety Manager, Tu-Wen Sun, to present the company’s ESG achievements, covering Environment, Social Responsibility, and Corporate Governance. This marked the first time TSMC collaborated with NCCU for a lecture, which was met with enthusiastic participation from faculty and students, filling the lecture hall to capacity.
Manager Chang opened the session with a presentation titled “ESG Creates Corporate Value,” outlining TSMC’s ESG vision of “integrity, environmental sustainability, and care for the disadvantaged,” and emphasizing shared value with stakeholders through continued sharing of successful sustainability initiatives. She further clarified the ESG framework through five major focus areas: green manufacturing, responsible supply chain development, inclusive and diverse workplaces, talent cultivation, and social outreach.
Manager Chang then shared specific examples of TSMC’s ESG practices:
(1) Collaboration with Butterfly Network to develop portable ultrasound devices, enabling accurate diagnoses worldwide during the pandemic.
(2) Assisting component cleaning suppliers in workplace transformation, improving safety standards and establishing procedural norms.
(3) Developing an in-house AI-based chilled water system, saving approximately 180 million kWh annually and promoting the technology company-wide.
(4) Establishing the ESG AWARD to encourage employee contributions aligned with TSMC’s five ESG directions, promoting internal engagement in circular economy practices.
(5) Promoting social initiatives and environmental awareness through the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation and TSMC Charity Foundation.
In conclusion, Manager Chang introduced TSMC’s top-down and cross-functional ESG management strategies. The company regularly consults with stakeholders to define 14 key ESG issues, setting detailed performance indicators and implementation strategies. She emphasized TSMC’s long-term commitment to research, interdepartmental collaboration, and ongoing monitoring of ESG outcomes. TSMC not only discloses financial information but also encourages students and faculty to follow its annual ESG reports.
The second speaker, Manager Sun, presented on “Green Manufacturing and Responsible Supply Chains,” covering TSMC’s strategies in these areas. Using data, he explained that for every unit of electricity consumed during production, TSMC's products can help save four units globally, thanks to advanced manufacturing processes that consolidate multiple device functions. As the first semiconductor company to join the RE100 initiative, TSMC has pledged to use 100% renewable energy by 2050. In response to its greenhouse gas emissions structure, the company has adopted three key strategies:
(1) Reducing direct emissions through energy conservation and fluorinated gas reduction.
(2) Reducing indirect emissions via zero-carbon fuels and renewable energy.
(3) Minimizing value chain emissions through carbon trading and carbon capture collaborations.
TSMC not only purchases green energy in bulk but also plans to deepen collaboration with suppliers to reduce associated societal costs.
Beyond emissions, TSMC also focuses on water resource management and waste reduction. Manager Sun noted that the company sees waste as “misplaced resources” and pursues circular use despite higher costs. Efforts include: implementing water monitoring systems, improving water efficiency, recycling reclaimed water, extracting usable chemicals from waste liquids, and developing a smart waste tracking system. TSMC reuses each drop of water 3.5 times, with 86% chemical and 100% metal recycling rates. These practices are applied across all facilities and have earned TSMC the AWS Platinum Water Stewardship certification. A zero-waste manufacturing center is planned in Central Taiwan Science Park to further implement circular economy principles in production.
Following the lectures, students actively inquired about TSMC’s ESG development process, comparisons with ESG consultancy firms, and how successful sustainability cases can be replicated. Manager Chang reviewed TSMC’s transition from CSR to ESG, noting that while the format evolved in line with government and global trends, the core focus remains consistent. She stressed that ESG at TSMC is about sharing—not profit. Manager Sun added that TSMC’s commitment and product quality motivate suppliers to invest in upgrades and join the responsible supply chain. He also noted that all successful ESG practices are standardized and replicated through “smart copy” methods, such as the global adoption of renewable energy across TSMC’s overseas facilities.
In closing, both speakers offered career advice to students. Manager Chang emphasized the importance of language and presentation skills, given ESG’s focus on disclosure and communication. Manager Sun encouraged students from social science backgrounds to engage in ESG-related research, as ESG is now a critical issue for all businesses.
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Original article (Chinese): NCCU Campus News
