Sustainability Stories | TSMC ESG Case Sharing

TSMC Launches Inaugural "Sustainability in Action" Publication, Creating a New ESG Communication Experience

To address stakeholders' diverse needs for sustainability information, TSMC uses its Sustainability Report as the primary platform for presenting annual ESG achievements and management practices, while building a wide range of communication channels to enhance information accessibility. In addition to offering a "Report Builder" that helps readers download chapters based on topics of interest, the Company adopted Generative AI technology in 2026 to develop an "AI Search" feature to retrieve information more efficiently. At the same time, TSMC initiated a redesign of its Sustainability Report Highlights, renaming the publication Sustainability in Action—a storytelling-driven format designed to resonate with readers. The Company also released an animated highlights video to help readers quickly grasp annual performance highlights, demonstrating its commitment to transparent disclosure and shared value with stakeholders.

TSMC 2025 Sustainability Report Highlights Video

Music Resonance and Game-Based Learning: TSMC ESG Warm-Up Campaigns Engage More Than 700,000 Participants

To help sustainability culture to take root and thrive, TSMC drives a series of empowerment programs using three strategies: "Knowledge Construction, Innovation Cultivation, and Responsive Action." Among these initiatives, the TSMC ESG AWARD serves as a core platform to drive innovation, encouraging employees to propose ideas linked to TSMC's five ESG directions: Drive Green Manufacturing, Build a Responsible Supply Chain, Create a Healthy and Inclusive Workplace, Develop Talent, and Care for the Underprivileged. The TSMC ESG AWARD also recognizes the sustainability achievements of organizations across the Company. As the 7th TSMC ESG AWARD opened for submissions this year, TSMC introduced two innovative warm-up campaigns under the themes of "music resonance" and "game-based learning": "THE ESG IDOL" and “ESG Lucky 7." Through singing performances and knowledge challenges, the campaigns transformed the meaning of TSMC's five ESG directions into highly interactive experiences. The campaigns successfully engaged all domestic and overseas organizations, with cumulative participation exceeding 700,000 participants, building strong momentum for the 7th TSMC ESG AWARD.

Embedding ICIC Core Values, TSMC Builds a Shared Culture Across the Globe

As TSMC expands its global presence, the Company is working to build a shared understanding of its corporate core values of Integrity, Commitment, Innovation, and Customer trust (ICIC) among employees from diverse cultural backgrounds. In 2026, TSMC established the TSMC Corporate Culture Strategy, guided by ICIC and built around two complementary approaches: the A.B.C.C. Framework, and practices throughout the employee lifecycle. The Culture Team traveled to different regions and worked closely with TSMC Arizona Corporation, TSMC North America, TSMC Europe B.V, and TSMC Japan Limited to develop annual culture strategies tailored to each location, making ICIC a common language across borders. In October, TSMC is also launching its internal Culture Hub website, creating a one-stop resource for employees around the world to learn about the Company's culture, build a stronger sense of connection, and develop the resilience needed for sustainable operations.

TSMC Adopts Nanobubble Cleaning to Create Environmental and Operational Synergies

TSMC actively practices sustainable water resource management. In response to its global manufacturing expansion and the stringent cleanliness standards of advanced processes, TSMC proactively enhanced its piping and equipment cleaning procedures. Starting in 2025, the Company introduced Nano-bubble Cleaning Technology. This method utilizes nano-bubbles to adsorb microscopic particles and leverages the micro-impact forces generated when bubbles burst. Coupled with TSMC's self-developed "Real-time Bubble Quality Monitoring and Auto-tuning Mechanism," this technology successfully reduced piping particles and impurities by 70% and halved chemical usage, shortening the tool qualification schedule for new fab construction by up to 35 days. As of September 2026, this technology has been deployed at Fab 12A and the Global R&D Center. Once the technology is fully implemented across all 12-inch wafer fabs in Taiwan, it is projected to save 760,000 cubic meters of ultra-pure water annually (equivalent to the volume of 304 Olympic-sized swimming pools) and generate approximately NT$100 million in green value, creating win-win for both environmental sustainability and company growth.Smart Monitoring Ensures Both Quality and EfficiencyChemical supply systems in wafer fabs require regular cleaning with ultra-pure water to maintain supply stability and process quality. To further optimize water efficiency as well as operational effectiveness, TSMC's facility team integrated nano-bubble cleaning technology with their operational experience in the factory, establishing a dual monitoring threshold for both "bubble quality" and "cleanliness." First, the system conducts real-time monitoring to verify the particle size, concentration, and surface charge of the nano-bubble. If they do not meet the criteria, parameters are automatically adjusted to their optimal state. Next, the level of cleanliness during the wash process is inspected, and the cleaning cycle is automatically restarted if process specifications are not met. This dual-closed-loop smart cleaning mechanism not only reduces chemical usage but also leverages automated controls to ensure every operation meets high quality standards.To scale the benefits of this technology, TSMC adopted a two-stage rollout strategy. The first phase focuses on the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) slurry supply systems in existing 12-inch wafer fabs, deploying nano-bubble ultra-pure water (UPW) to eliminate residual microparticles in the pipelines. This not only improved cleanliness but also drove a 62% improvement in wafer defect reduction performance. The second phase expands the technology to production equipment and pre-wash tanks in new fabs. By fully optimizing cleaning workflows, the system qualification timeline was accelerated by 35 days, synergizing green manufacturing with rapid capacity expansion.

TSMC Publishes Five Theme Reports, Showcasing Progress in Shared Value

Upholding the principle of transparent disclosure, TSMC proactively responds to issues of stakeholder concern through a wide range of theme reports, transforming its practical experience in sustainability into ESG knowledge shared with the public. In addition to publishing non-financial reports for 27 consecutive years, in August 2026 the Company comprehensively updated and released its Materiality Analysis Report, Climate and Nature Report, Human Rights Progress Report, Sustainability Impact Valuation Report, and UN SDGs Action Report. These five theme reports not only consolidate the collective wisdom of cross-functional collaboration but also demonstrate the concrete results of TSMC internalizing sustainability thinking into its operations. Through these efforts, the Company hopes to exert its influence on the industry and collaborate with value chain partners to shape a brighter, more sustainable future of shared prosperity.

TSMC 2025 Sustainability Report Now Available Online

Driven by innovation as a growth engine, TSMC advances sustainable development through its five ESG directions and manages actions and performance through its five sustainability roles. The latest TSMC 2025 Sustainability Report, designed with the theme of "Crystalline Light, Sustainability in Sight," transparently presents the Company's concrete progress in aligning with global trends and stakeholder expectations. In addition to focusing on the three sustainability commitments of Net Zero Emissions, Water Positive, and No Net Loss (NNL) of Nature and Biodiversity, the report identifies Biodiversity as a material issue for the first time, demonstrating TSMC's focus on the natural environment and value chain resilience. TSMC looks forward to working with stakeholders to advance shared prosperity across the economy, environment, and society.

TSMC Debuts A13 Process at Technology Symposium to Expand AI

At its 32nd Technology Symposium in 2026, themed "Expanding AI with Leadership Silicon," TSMC continued to extend its technology leadership with the debut of its next-generation A13 logic process technology. Compared to A14, A13 not only reduces die area by 6% but also features fully compatible design rules. This enables customers to upgrade to the latest nanosheet transistor technology with lower design migration costs, while further improving power efficiency and performance through continuous design-technology co-optimization (DTCO). A13 is scheduled for volume production in 2029.In addition to advanced processes, TSMC unveiled its latest advancements in TSMC 3DFabric® advanced packaging and 3D silicon stacking solutions, as well as specialty technologies to meet the demands of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). This year's symposium also featured an ESG-themed booth for the first time. Under the theme "Driven by Tech, Built for Sustainability," it showcased TSMC's commitment to driving positive environmental and social impact through its technology leadership and manufacturing excellence. Overall, the TSMC 2026 Technology Symposium attracted a record-breaking number of over 9,100 participants globally (in person and virtually), demonstrating continued strong customer support for the Company.

TSMC Donates Advanced Electron Microscope to NTHU, Bridging Industry and Academia

As part of its commitment to the "Develop Talent" pillar of the five ESG Directions, TSMC actively partners with universities and research institutions in Taiwan and around the world. Through the four focus areas of "science outreach, career exploration, professional development, and collaborative research," the Company strengthens industry-academia collaboration, advancing research in cutting-edge technologies including semiconductor materials, devices, manufacturing processes, and chip design. To deepen advanced research and bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, TSMC donated a high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) in May 2026 to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)—the first department of its kind established in Taiwan, extending advanced R&D resources from Ph.D. research to master's and undergraduate students, empowering young minds to engage in hands-on TEM training early on and cultivating practical talent from the grassroots level. TSMC has also established a systematic workflow covering "installation planning and relocation" to ensure the successful commissioning of the equipment. Additionally, TSMC launched a summer internship program in July providing college students with real-world industry experience, helping them develop professional skills, and fostering the next generation of talent for the semiconductor industry.

TSMC Cuts TMAH Effluent, Protecting the Environment while Boosting Efficiency

In response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, TSMC continues to improve wastewater treatment and waste reduction efficiency. TSMC (Nanjing) collaborated with suppliers to enhance the system performance of its tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) wastewater treatment system by using strong acid cation exchange resin (SAC) with a top-inlet configuration and optimizing hydrochloric acid concentration and dosage. After 2.5 years of practical operation, the resin's lifespan was extended from eight to 30 months, while the regenerated TMAC concentration increased from 10% to 12.3%. This achievement has yielded an annual reduction of 387 metric tons of TMAC waste liquid and a cost savings of approximately NT$16.7 million, delivering both environmental and operational value.Enhancing Resin Adsorption Efficiency: A Further Evolution of Green Manufacturing ProcessesTMAH is a key chemical utilized in semiconductor photolithography process. The tetramethylammonium cations (TMA+) in wastewater are adsorbed by resin tower and then desorbed by hydrochloric acid to convert into TMAC liquid waste. In line with its commitment to environmental sustainability and reducing waste, the TSMC (Nanjing) facility department partnered with suppliers in 2024 to upgrade the system's control programming, which has integrated automated air scouring and backwashing functions into the resin towers. Concurrently, by conducting a comparative performance analysis of strong and weak acid cation (WAC) resins, the adsorption workflow was successfully optimized, leading to a 99% pollutant removal rate and a 200% expansion in system treatment capacity. In addition, by testing and adjusting the operational parameters for hydrochloric acid concentration and dosage, the concentration of recovered TMAC was further increased, delivering a twofold success of waste minimization and cost reduction.

TSMC Enhances Supply Chain Water Governance, Boosting Improvement Rate by 85.7%

To keep pace with the rapid development of the semiconductor industry, TSMC continues to improve its supply chain sustainability risk management. The Company refines its environmental, safety, and health (ESH) management through a four-step framework: "Standard and System Establishment, Audit and Violation Tracking, Consultation and Training, and Supplier Follow-up Consultation." In 2025, TSMC launched the "Key Supplier Wastewater Discharge Supervision Enhancement Program." Under this initiative, the Company surveyed 425 critical raw material suppliers while selecting 15 high-risk suppliers for on-site audits. TSMC proposed a total of 140 improvement recommendations, and as of July 2026, the completion rate of these improvements reached 85.7%. Furthermore, TSMC has transformed its mentoring experience into a public good, sharing common wastewater management deficiencies and corrective actions at ESH-related forums to lead the supply chain toward a mutually beneficial green transition.

Driving the Future through the "Talent Empowering Program": TSMC Charity Foundation Enhances Youth Career Competitiveness

The TSMC Charity Foundation has long been dedicated to educational empowerment, inspiring the potential of young people through diverse initiatives such as the "Road to Employment" program, job fairs, and career exploration. To strengthen technical education and narrow the gap between education and employment, the Foundation brought together industry, government, and academic resources in 2025. Collaborating with the Hsinchu County and City Governments, as well as the Automotive Department of Kuang-Fu High School and the Minth University of Science and Technology, they co-hosted the "Technical and Vocational Talent Empowerment Program." The initiative adopted a dual strategy of "empowering teachers to provide adaptive guidance" and "enhancing students' readiness to bridge education and employment." By analyzing industry trends and career prospects, the camp strengthened junior high school teachers' career guidance capabilities. It also helped vocational high school students align with industry demands through hands-on experiences and alumni mentorship. Building on this successful collaborative foundation, in May 2026 the TSMC Charity Foundation further supported Kuang-Fu High School in hosting the "Sailing Ahead with Vocational Education, Building Dreams at Guang-Fu: A Junior High School Career Exploration Experience Across Vocational Fields.” This event guided junior high school students to envision their future career paths while further strengthening technical and vocational education.