Regionalized Life Cycle Assessment of Silicon Wafers Supply Chains in the Semiconductor Industry

Abdullah Ahsan Ahmed, René H. Reich (), Andrea Maria, Lizzie Boakes, Cédric Rolin and Karel Acker
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Abdullah Ahsan Ahmed: KU Leuven
René H. Reich: KU Leuven
Andrea Maria: University of Liege
Lizzie Boakes: Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies & Systems, imec
Cédric Rolin: Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies & Systems, imec
Karel Acker: KU Leuven

Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2025, vol. 5, issue 3, 2347-2371

Abstract: Abstract Silicon wafers are the basis on which integrated circuit chips are produced. Hence, their constant supply is the backbone of digitalization. However, the silicon wafer supply chain is concentrated in a few geographic areas. This concentration makes the supply chain susceptible to unforeseen disruptions. This lack of resilience calls for a shift of silicon wafer supply towards Europe. Conversely, European Integrated Circuit chip manufacturers have to lower their Scope 3 emissions and, thus, the environmental impacts of their supply chain. This study investigates the environmental impacts of a global and a European silicon wafer supply chain scenario through regionalized Life Cycle Assessment. We modeled the supply chains using publicly available data. We show the most impactful suppliers and the differences in environmental impacts between a global and European silicon wafer supply chain through a contribution, hotspot, sensitivity, and uncertainty analysis. In our results, we highlight the effects and importance of regionalized Life Cycle Assessment for global, abiotic supply chains as well.

Keywords: Silicon wafer; Regionalized Life Cycle Assessment; Green supply chain Management; IMPACT World+; Semiconductor Industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s43615-024-00480-5

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