At the 23rd Global Views Summit held in Taipei on November 5-6, 2025, He Lihui, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), shared insights on the company's sustainability philosophy.
Opening with the statement, "The right thing faces no headwinds," He emphasized TSM’s foundational belief in sustainability. She noted that as early as 2011, founder Morris Chang articulated the vision that "a company’s purpose is not just to make profits but to become a global role model," which has since guided TSM’s sustainability strategy. Following the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, TSM identified nine key focus areas, prioritizing green manufacturing, responsible supply chains, workplace diversity, talent development, and support for disadvantaged communities.
TSM’s ESG governance is overseen by its board of directors, supported by an ESG Steering Committee and a dedicated Corporate Sustainability Office to ensure strategy execution and performance tracking. As the first semiconductor company to commit to the RE100 initiative, TSM aims to transition fully to renewable energy by 2040 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, aligned with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
On water sustainability, TSM released its Water Declaration in 2024, targeting 100% water positivity by 2040. Initiatives include constructing a reclaimed water plant in Southern Taiwan Science Park, sourcing 45,000 cubic meters of desalinated seawater daily, replenishing over 5 million cubic meters of groundwater in Kumamoto, Japan, and implementing water recycling systems in its Arizona facility while supporting river ecosystem restoration.
Additionally, TSM established a Zero Waste Center in Taichung, integrating heat recovery and waste reuse to process 130,000 tons of waste annually, alongside pioneering carbon capture research. Biodiversity efforts include conserving bees, fireflies, and the endangered fish species "Puntius snyderi."
"All 90,000 TSM employees worldwide must embed ESG into their DNA," He Lihui stated, acknowledging challenges in navigating diverse regulatory and cultural landscapes. She stressed that while net-zero carbon reduction is a universal goal, community support initiatives are tailored locally, reflecting TSM’s global yet adaptable approach to corporate responsibility.