Company profile
Established in November 2006, Rexchip Electronics Corporation (Rexchip) is a joint venture between Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. (PSC) of Taiwan and Elpida Memory, Inc. Rexchip, which combines the development capabilities of Japan with the manufacturing capabilities of Taiwan, operates a state-of-the-art DRAM manufacturing plant producing primarily high-capacity, high-performance DRAM.
Rexchip's 300 mm plant has been operating at a monthly production volume of 75,000 wafers since the first half of 2008 and currently employees about 2,000 workers.
Approach to the environment, safety, and health
Rexchip prioritizes environmental as well as safety and health management. Based on its philosophy of sharing the benefits of its operations with employees, customers, and society, the company considers the ongoing improvement of employees' safety and health, the prevention of pollution, and clean, environmentally friendly production practices to be an integral part of its corporate management. By adopting an aggressive approach to environmental, safety, and health management, the company is able to maintain good relationships with employees, customers, business partners, and local residents. Furthermore, the company believes that it can provide superior quality of life for employees and society and achieve its ultimate goal of continued corporate operations by observing the philosophy and principles it has laid out for its own operation.
Environment, safety, and health policies
- Safety is equally as important as the environment, productivity, and quality.
- To observe domestic and international legal regulations and other relevant rules for environmental protection, safety, and hygiene.
- All managers should be committed to implementing and improving environmental protection, safety and hygiene management on a daily basis so as to enhance the consciousness of environmental protection, safety and hygiene of employees.
- It is the responsibility of all employees to prevent any environmental pollution and risk, and achieve zero pollution and zero accidents.
- Implementing energy saving and waste minimization activities so as to lower pollution and energy consumption.
- Constantly review and audit the ESH management system so that a safe and healthy working environment can be achieved and enhance the performance of environmental protection, safety and hygiene management.
Initiatives to prevent global warming
Investigating and validating greenhouse gas emission sources
The principle sources of greenhouse gas emissions at Rexchip are direct emissions of PFCs and other gases during manufacturing processes and indirect emissions associated with the use of electric power and other energy sources. Rexchip plans and implements a variety of prevention activities in order to lessen the impact of its production activities on global warming and to fulfill its responsibilities as a global citizen. Specific measures include environmentally-aware design of factories and surrounding areas to incorporate trees, the use of energy-saving equipment and systems, and purchases of water- and powersaving Green Label components.
Rexchip compiles and investigates CO2 emissions statistics in accordance with the ISO 14064 standard. CO2 emissions in 2008 totaled 320 kt-CO2, 89% of which derived from electric power, 5% from PFC gas emissions due to manufacturing, and 6% from other activities and facilities (cafeteria, employee dormitory, vehicle fleet, etc.). Emissions data is validated by an outside organization (BSI).
Management of PFC gas emissions and reduction efforts
PFC gases emitted by manufacturing processes are released into the atmosphere after processing by local emissions treatment systems. During 2008, 172 kt-CO2 of greenhouse gases were eliminated, while 17 kt-CO2 were emitted. The volume of eliminated greenhouse gases is equivalent to 54% of the factory's total CO2 emissions, indicating that significant reduction benefits are being achieved.
Environmental monitoring
Management of pollutant emissions
Rexchip undertakes measures including the sampling and measuring of exhaust gases and wastewater, testing of waste for toxicity, and work environmental measurements in order to assess the impact of its business activities on the environment and ensure that its pollution controls and pollution-reducing activities are both effective and appropriate. In this way, the company verifies that all test results meet legal and regulatory standards and that its aggressive regime of pollution prevention and emissions controls is functioning properly.
Installation of a fish-breeding pond
Rexchip has installed a fish-breeding pond to monitor wastewater discharged from its plant. Wastewater discharged from the factory accounts for all water in the pond, which is designed to simulate the ecology of rivers outside the plant. By raising fish and aquatic plants in the pond, it is possible to monitor the impact of wastewater discharged from the plant on river ecosystems. Fish and plants in the pond are growing normally, demonstrating that water discharged from the plant is not having a harmful effect on the natural environment.
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs Recognizes Rexchip with Outstanding Water Saving Award
The semiconductor manufacturing industry uses large amounts of water. To reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, Rexchip installed water-saving equipment with high recovery efficiency ratings when its plant was built.
In 2008, the Company improved the water recovery rate in its manufacturing processes to 85% and saved a total of 6.15 million tons of water by implementing a range of watersaving plans.
In recognition of Rexchip's accomplishments in this area, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs awarded the Company its Water Resources Conservation Award.