Qualcomm Finally Enters Company List Towards Net Zero

Qualcomm hopes to reduce emissions to net zero. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - Chipmaker Qualcomm has finally entered the list of companies that will aim for net zero emissions by 2040, following in the footsteps of Apple and Google.

Reports show that chipset manufacturing is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in smartphone production, so Qualcomm will achieve its intentions with several plans.

Qualcomm's goals, which the company detailed, started last year and focused on reducing three scopes of greenhouse gas emissions namely, Scope 1: emissions from the company itself, Scope 2: indirect emissions from electricity, heating or cooling, finally Scope 3: emissions from its supply chain.

Over the next 20 years, Qualcomm hopes to reduce emissions to net zero, with more immediate effect, at least a 50 percent reduction by 2030 from the base year 2020.

Citing Engadget, Tuesday, November 2, this first objective will focus on Scope 1 and 2 primarily, with Scope 3 seeing only 25 percent in the same time period.

This effort begins with Qualcomm purchasing 100 percent renewable energy for its San Diego headquarters, and decarbonizing its operations using a minimal amount of Renewable Energy Credits and carbon offsets.

However, that doesn't mean the company is trying to clean up its environmental responsibilities, but there is a significant difference between making its office green and doing the same for its supply chain.

Qualcomm itself relies on TSMC, Samsung and others to manufacture its chips, with reducing emissions in Scope 3 the most impactful way for the company, to reduce environmental pollution.