Pollution Prevention

The air pollution source of Actron mainly comes from the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused by the process cleaning chemical agents. We implement various appropriate treatments based on the characteristics of high and low boiling points of VOCs.  In addition, according to regulatory requirements, VOC emissions may not exceed 0.6kg/hr. The historical inspection data and the regulatory requirement difference rate are analyzed to be far lower than the statutory value. The historical VOC emission inspection values are show in detail in the following table (reduction rate refers to the comparison between the emission amount and the statutory value of 0.6kg/hr). The main source of VOC emissions is the isopropyl alcohol machine. Starting in 2024, due to the addition of 48V, TO220, and SO10 products in the Regulator manufacturing process, the use of raw materials related to VOC increased. As a result, Actron's VOC emissions per unit product in 2024 reached 0.293 kg/K-pcs, representing a 16.44% increase compared to 0.251 kg/K-pcs in 2023.

To further reduce the emission of VOCs, we have implemented product transformation and LLD mass production, so that the use of the isopropyl alcohol machine has been reduced. In 2024, the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) unit waste liquid was 0.140kg/K-pcs, a decrease of 69.5% from the past maximum value in 2017, meaning both the waste volume and VOC emissions were reduced.  All of the gas emissions from our production process comply with the Air Pollution Control Act and the Air Pollution Control and Emissions Standards for the Semiconductor Industry in Taiwan. We also perform daily operations according to the internal management, in order to prevent the occurrence of pollution. Furthermore, we periodically monitor the air quality and calibrate the accuracy of the continuous monitoring facilities, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the air pollution control measures. Furthermore, we do not use ozone depleting substances in our manufacturing process, and we do not emit gas pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfides

To ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations, Actron processes and tests all wastewater before discharging it into the Nankan River. Actron's wastewater comprises general process wastewater, nickel-containing liquid, fluoride-containing wastewater, and other liquids. In 2024, the total drainage amounted to 227 million liters, with the unit drainage per product at 0.00084 million liters per K-pcs, representing a 2.02% increase compared to 0.00080 million liters per K-pcs in 2023. In May 2024, Actron completed the installation and acceptance of the cutting and grinding wastewater recycling system. The system independently collects and treats wastewater from grinding, cutting, and cleaning processes for reuse. It is currently undergoing trial operation and is expected to demonstrate Actron’s effectiveness in water pollution prevention starting in 2025.

The general process wastewater is uniformly collected by the sewage treatment plant for treatment, and the wastewater source for treatment includes the sewage sources of pure water equipment re-cleaning wastewater, alkaline waste liquid, acid waste liquid, cutting process cleaning water, electroplating process cleaning water, wet etching process cleaning water, fluorine-containing cleaning water, etc. In accordance with the inspection items required for the wafer manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing industry specified in the “Water Pollution Control Measures and Test Reporting Management Regulations”, we have obtained the inspection item exemption approval official document from the Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan City Government in 2022 (Tao-Huan-Shui-Zi No. 1110026995), and the items exempted from inspection include zinc, cadmium, lead, total chromium, total mercury, arsenic, cyanide, hexavalent chromium, boron and molybdenum. The effluent inspection was conducted on November 4, 2024, and the results indicate compliance with effluent standards.

In 2024, the recycled water amount was 70 million liters, and the ratio of the recycled and reused water volume over the total water consumption is 22%. For the period from 2015 to 2024, the accumulated recycled water volume was 711 million liters. Actron aims for the goal of process recycled water of 90%, and has consecutively completed fluorine-containing wastewater recycling and electroplating (nickel-containing) process cleaning wastewater recycling systems, in order to expand the recycling system and to handle the full amount of recycling and reuse of wastewater discharged from the present production process, thereby reducing the wastewater discharge. We have also set the goal of recycling and reuse of 40% of effluent wastewater, in order to increase the benefits of recycling and reuse.

Regarding the waste management, Actron assigns the Factory Facility Department and Environmental Safety and Health Department to be responsible for the facility management and administrative management of “General Industrial Waste” and “Hazardous Industrial Waste”.  Due to the establishment of Actron’s third plant, equipment and personnel were stationed in 2023, leading to increased waste generated from production line setup, equipment packaging, and so on. In 2024, the total waste generated was 805.23 metric tons, with waste per unit product at 2.970 kg/K-pcs, a 33.67% increase compared to 2023. However, this represents a 20.75% reduction compared to the 2014 baseline year (3.748 kg/K-pcs). All of the waste was outsourced for treatment, and there were no violations.  Industrial waste is a significant environmental impact issue associated with product manufacturing, and we are not only continuously monitoring but also actively managing our waste. We have set a target to reduce waste per unit product by 55% compared to the baseline year by 2030.