It’s bittersweet to be writing my last blog post for 3D InCites after 50+posts over four and a half years. My professional relationship with Francoise goes back much further to when we were both at Advanced Packaging Magazine 20 years ago.
In Dec of 2015, Francoise approached me about writing content for Impress Labs, which later became Kiterocket. Over the years, we collaborated on many projects and became friends. Francoise wrote a glowing review of my first book, Material Value, on 3D InCites in 2019, and Kiterocket bought a bunch of copies to give to customers. You might be one of them.
The Start of Sustainability 101 at 3D InCites
One of the early 3D InCites podcast episodes features a discussion between Francoise, Martijn Pierik, Dean Freeman, and me. The topic was sustainability in semiconductor manufacturing, and that episode aired in May 2021, at the same time as the launch of my Sustainability 101 Series. If you missed it, you can catch it here.
My first seven blog posts covered the topics listed below.
- Greenhouse gas emissions – Definitions and scopes
- Sustainability reporting –Standards and trends
- Circular economy, part I – What is zero waste?
- The product lifecycle – Sustainability and the supply chain
- Chemicals of concern – Moving beyond RoHS
- Water management – Global problem, local solutions
- Circular economy, part II – Improving e-waste
Over the years, I have returned to these topics and more, often highlighting 3D InCites members. I wrote two 3D InCites Yearbook articles addressing the question, “Has Our Industry Become More Sustainable?” Not surprisingly, my answers both years were yes and no.
While all seven of my original topics remain relevant, the landscape has changed since 2021. Here are a few examples.
CDP Scores on Climate Change and Water Security
CDP scores are one way to judge sustainability performance. My 2023 Yearbook article listed 3D InCites member companies, along with other industry leaders, which scored an A (the highest ranking) in either climate or water in 2022.
Two years later, most of the companies I mentioned have maintained or improved their scores. TSMC and Flex (which I wish had kept the name Flextronics) are notable exceptions. The chart below adds 2025 3D InCites members (shown in boldface) that earned at least a B on their 2024 CDP report card.
Gathering and disclosing data is a crucial step toward improving environmental performance. Congratulations to all these companies for going through the CDP scoring process and doing reasonably well. For context, CDP only awarded an A in any category to 2% of companies that submitted their data.
Growing Concern about PFAS
My October 2021 water management post mentioned that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would soon implement limits on the concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and industrial wastewater. (Curiously, the “chemicals of concern” post didn’t mention PFAS.)
Awareness of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” has grown significantly in the past few years. Consumer goods manufacturers now promote new products that are PFAS-free, something I didn’t see much a few years ago. My annual article in the 2025 Yearbook, “What You Need to Know About PFAS,” updated readers on regulatory requirements, the challenge of replacing PFAS, and relevance for semiconductor manufacturers.
A year later, the regulatory scene in the U.S. has changed, but that doesn’t reduce the need to eliminate PFAS wherever feasible.
Sustainability is Still Critical
As the 2025 MIT State of Supply Chain Sustainability Report notes, “sustainability is no longer optional.” Companies in all sectors, including electronics, are maintaining their sustainability commitments. As has been the case for a long time, translating commitments to action remains a sticking point. The report notes the “execution gap between strategic intent and daily practice of an organization.”
That said, stating sustainability goals publicly correlates to greater implementation. Industry collaboration and partnerships, whether through shared frameworks or formal organizations like SEMI, drives progress. Though the MIT report doesn’t focus on the semiconductor industry, global issues around decarbonization, electrification, and transportation translate to any industry that makes physical products.
What’s Next?
I don’t know how various global pressures will affect the semiconductor industry. The optimist in me wants to believe that engineers, acting in accordance with the engineering Code of Ethics, will find more environmentally responsible answers to technical challenges. Might they even question aloud whether smaller, faster, and cheaper should be the top priorities that dictate design choices? Their ability to do so would require an industry-wide shift that seems unlikely to happen.
Francoise wrote a blog post in October where she spoke candidly about the possibilities and pitfalls for the future of this industry. She made some excellent, if sometimes disturbing, points.
As for me, I’ve been involved in the semiconductor industry so long that when a recent New York Times Crossword asked for a 4-letter answer to “Big name in chip production,” the first thing that occurred to me was TSMC. The real answer was LAYS.
Francoise retiring from 3D InCites feels like a sign for me to back away from this industry as well. In my books and through consulting projects, I’ve always worked with a broad range of sectors. I’m exploring various possibilities as I chart a course for my business in 2026. If you want to stay in touch, you can find me on LinkedIn.
