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Guiding Principles and Policies

Guiding Principles and Policies

Intel has proactively developed a number of policies that guide our environmental commitment and performance.

Design for the Environment (DfE)

When Intel builds a new wafer fabrication facility (Fab), we apply "Design for the Environment" (DfE) principles long before ground breaking. DfE principles inform our processes when designing systems such as cooling towers, heating recovery systems with reduced water requirements, and low-water landscaping.

Since 1997, a strategic DfE plan enabled our Ocotillo, Arizona site to grow while maintaining environmental goals. The site worked with internal and external stakeholders to achieve these goals.

Additional examples of DfE include the elimination of methanol and its related air emissions from a protective coating process that was redesigned during a technology update across one of Intel's manufacturing processes. Intel engineers also optimized ammonia use in a cleaning operation. Based on our data modeling, this change will result in a 75 percent reduction in ammonia use and save approximately $1 million at our Oregon site by eliminating the need to install new wastewater treatment equipment.

Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policy

Intel is committed to achieving high standards of environmental quality and product safety, and providing a safe and healthful workplace for our employees, contractors, and communities.

EHS performance indicators

Each quarter we review our EHS performance indicator with senior executives. We measure energy use, water use, emissions, waste generated, and waste recycled. In addition to our performance indicators and in the interest of transparency, we publish our regulatory non-compliance notification and our corrective actions in the annual CSR report.

Climate change policy

Intel believes that climate change is an economic, social and environmental challenge that warrants a societal and policy response. This belief is reflected in our own stewardship actions. For more than a decade, Intel has been a leader in addressing climate change by reducing our emissions of PFCs and by improving the energy efficiency of our operations and products.

Industry partnerships

Intel partners with a number of industry organizations to carry out our principles and policies.