top of page
Search
Writer's pictureCarolina MIlanesi

Empowering the Future: AMD's Journey in Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

In an era where corporate responsibility and sustainability are not just buzzwords but essential components of a company's identity and operation, AMD has committed to mindfully driving innovation to benefit society truly, as highlighted in its 2023-24 Corporate Responsibility Report. The semiconductor industry, known for its high energy consumption and environmental impact, is undergoing a transformation led by companies like AMD. These companies are committed to pushing the envelope in high-performance computing while ensuring their operations and products contribute positively to the planet and its people. With 29 years of experience in sustainability reporting, AMD is further strengthening its foundation through enhanced stakeholder engagement, maximizing value chain collaborations, and gearing up for forthcoming sustainability reporting standards.


Leadership in High-Performance Computing


AMD's commitment to corporate responsibility is evident in its approach to developing the world's fastest and most efficient high-performance computing deployments. This commitment is about leading in innovation and ensuring that these advancements are made responsibly. AMD's technology powers a vast array of applications, from cloud services to scientific research, impacting billions of people daily. The company's dedication to excellence in this area is matched by its commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.


Leadership is not only about market wins. For the business's longevity, it must be about tackling environmental and societal issues, and AMD understands that fully.

To tackle broader industry challenges like Scope 3 emissions decarbonization and addressing forced labor risks within the supply chain, AMD plays a pivotal role in the world's largest supply chain sustainability coalition, the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA). Its ongoing involvement includes membership on the RBA Board of Directors and the Senior Environmental Advisory Team. AMD also played a key role in the first RBA Forced Labor Summit in Washington D.C., contributed to the RBA audit fund for the Responsible Minerals Initiative, and guided the environmental strategy roadmap of the RBA.

As a founding member of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium, AMD led its Energy Collaborative in 2023 to boost renewable energy access in the Asia-Pacific region. Concurrently, it initiated the development of a Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP), incorporating climate scenarios to outline potential futures and their strategic implications, including risks and opportunities. This plan is part of our ongoing efforts to detail our decarbonization strategy, milestones, and achievements.

 

Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Goals


AMD's environmental sustainability efforts are comprehensive and ambitious. The company aims for a 50% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. This goal aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change and demonstrates AMD's commitment to a sustainable future. From 2020 to 2023, AMD significantly increased the use of renewable energy in our operations from 18% to 40%.


Additionally, AMD has set a target for its manufacturing suppliers to commit to greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges. By 2023, 84% of these suppliers had set public GHG reduction targets, and 84% of their facilities had undergone RBA audits since 2020. These are just some of the key achievements among AMD’s eight Corporate Responsibility (CR) goals, verified by third-party assurance for 2023.


The company's approach to environmental sustainability extends beyond emissions reduction. AMD is also focused on increasing the energy efficiency of its processors and accelerators, aiming for a 30x improvement by 2025 from a 2020 baseline. This focus reduces computing's environmental impact and delivers value to customers by lowering energy costs and enhancing performance.


As a fabless company, AMD recognizes that water quantity and quality are more relevant to its manufacturing supply chain. However, the company still aims to conserve water resources and comply with its internal Pollution Prevention Standard in the communities where it operates. AMD assesses major site activities and processes that could significantly impact the environment and implements reduction strategies. It closely manages the environmental impacts of wastewater and establishes industrial wastewater, stormwater, and groundwater strategies as needed.


In 2023, AMD's water usage increased by 23% from 2022 to 225 million liters due to site and lab expansions, increased employee headcount, and record heat in some locations. The company continues to utilize harvested rainwater in Austin and reuse gray water at facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reducing the demand for treated municipal water by approximately 28 million liters in these communities.


Regarding waste management, AMD aims to reduce waste through pollution prevention practices and divert waste from landfills through recycling, composting, and reuse. The company characterizes, tracks, and manages chemical, electronic, and other regulated waste generated onsite and through final disposition. All employees are required to take training that includes an overview of waste management at AMD, and the company audits waste management facilities and transporters to ensure a high level of care.

In 2023, AMD's total waste generated increased by 67% over 2022 to 1,348 metric tons, with 94% being non-hazardous and 6% hazardous waste streams. The increase was attributed to additional office buildings, product labs, employees, and the return-to-office after the pandemic. The non-hazardous waste diversion rate decreased from 83% in 2022 to 63% in 2023 due to increased waste recycling in India in 2022 caused by pandemic-related shipment delays and a waste vendor change in Canada. AMD recycled and composted 755 metric tons of non-hazardous materials, and the amount of regulated hazardous waste generated in product testing labs was 80 metric tons in 2023.


Social Responsibility and Supply Chain Integrity


AMD recognizes the importance of social responsibility in its operations and supply chain. The company is committed to ensuring that working conditions are safe, workers are treated with respect, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. AMD's supply chain responsibility initiatives include conducting annual audits to assess supplier performance against the Supplier Code of Conduct, emphasizing health and safety, and working towards the remediation and prevention of adverse impacts.


As a component and platform provider, AMD acknowledges that it cannot fully control or monitor all potential uses of its products. However, the company takes steps to reduce the risk of its products being used in ways that harm human rights.


Moreover, AMD is dedicated to diversity, belonging, and inclusion (DBI) within its workforce. The company aims for 70% of its employees to participate in AMD employee resource groups and/or other inclusion initiatives by 2025. This goal reflects AMD's belief in the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.


AMD is committed to promoting equal opportunities for women as part of its efforts to build a more inclusive culture. In 2023, the company launched the Advancing Women in Tech (AWT) program, a comprehensive learning experience designed to empower, retain, and support AMD women in technical careers. The program addresses women's unique challenges in the industry, such as lack of employer investment, isolation, and uncertainty about career advancement.


AMD’s Talent


AMD values its employees and actively listens to them through surveys and other tools. The annual AMDer Survey, with a 95% response rate in 2023, measures engagement, culture, and gathers ideas for improvement across 10 dimensions and three indexes: Engagement, Manager Quality, and Belonging and Inclusion.

In 2023, 91% of respondents were proud to work for AMD, 83% would recommend AMD as a great place to work, and 92% said AMD creates an environment where people of diverse backgrounds can succeed. The Engagement, Manager Quality, and Belonging and Inclusion indexes scored 86%, 88%, and 89% favorable, respectively, all above benchmarks for high-performing tech companies.


 

AMD's journey towards corporate responsibility and sustainability is a testament to the company's commitment to being a leader in technology and a force for positive change in the world. As the company moves forward, it will undoubtedly continue to set benchmarks for being a responsible and sustainable corporation in the 21st century.

148 views
bottom of page