Materials suppliers to the semiconductor industry are required to handle and process chemicals and gases which are potentially hazardous to both people and the environment. As one of these companies, Linde identifies and manages the environmental risks associated with the handling of electronic materials throughout their lifecycle from synthesis to disposal, including transportation and usage at the customer site.
Potential Effects
Electronic materials can potentially have an adverse effect on the environment in two ways. The unexpected instantaneous release of large volumes of hazardous material caused by an equipment or process failure, such as a pressure vessel rupture, can have a severe impact on the surrounding environment. This scenario is a concern across all process industries. There have been numerous high profile incidents where this has happened, such as the 1984 toxic gas leak in Bhopal, India; a 2010 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, US; and the 2013 ammonium nitrate explosion in Texas, US.
The second potential source of environmental impact caused by electronic materials is a long-term, relatively low-level release of material causing a gradual change in environmental conditions. This can be caused by insufficient abatement of materials which are not hazardous to people at low levels, but which nevertheless have an environmental impact. An example of this is the release of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), or sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), both of which are greenhouse gases, with Global Warming Potentials (GWP) of 17,200 and 23,900 times that of CO2. The potential severity of releasing these materials to the environment is apparent, and provides a clear imperative for those who deal with these gases to employ robust controls to manage the risk of such an event.
Managing Risks
Linde is active in reducing and managing the risk of both kinds of environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of our electronic materials via our Product Stewardship program. This program focuses on ensuring that Linde’s products are produced, transported, used, and disposed of in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, achieving this through a program of supplier audits and assessments, and working collaboratively with customers to implement best operating practice.
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