Practical Paths to Greener Fab Development
Semiconductor Construction: Practical Paths to Greener Fab Development
The construction industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for more than 40% of the total. Building materials alone are responsible for about a quarter of those emissions, and in semiconductor fabrication plants, concrete, steel, and asphalt contribute nearly 80% of a facility’s embodied carbon footprint.
According to Skanska’s Steve Clem and Myrrh Caplan, reducing emissions in fab construction is far more complex than simply replacing conventional materials with lower-carbon alternatives. Semiconductor facilities must meet stringent requirements for cleanliness, vibration control, and operational reliability. Any sustainable material must therefore satisfy the same demanding technical standards while remaining economically viable. Contractors also face the challenge of demonstrating the value of these alternatives to both facility owners and supply chain partners.
Several tools are helping accelerate adoption. One example is the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3), developed with support from Skanska USA and now managed by the nonprofit Building Transparency. Used by more than 60,000 professionals, the platform allows users to compare the carbon impacts of more than 200,000 construction materials, making low-carbon procurement decisions more data-driven.
Digital technologies are also playing a growing role. Artificial intelligence and digital twin models enable project teams to simulate a fab’s performance before construction begins, helping identify opportunities to reduce energy use, waste, and emissions early in the design process. At the same time, recycled aluminum and steel are increasingly being incorporated into fab projects without compromising the tight tolerances these facilities require.
Education remains another key component of the sustainability effort. The Supply Chain Sustainability School, which Skanska helped establish in the UK and later expand into the United States, has trained approximately 137,000 executives across 30,000 companies. By improving sustainability knowledge throughout the supply chain, the initiative aims to accelerate industry-wide adoption of better construction practices.
With the global semiconductor ecosystem expected to surpass $136 billion by the end of 2026, Clem and Caplan argue that semiconductor manufacturers are uniquely positioned to drive change. Because fab projects influence material suppliers, contractors, and building practices across multiple industries, sustainability decisions made in semiconductor construction can have an impact far beyond individual facilities, helping advance greener standards throughout the broader construction sector.
Project News
