March 20, 2023

Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning reduces its carbon footprint by opening a new ClasSiC™ production line in Avignon, France

Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning is excited to announce the opening of a new manufacturing line to produce its ClasSiC™ product in Avignon, France, in addition of the existing facility in Anaheim, CA, USA. The aim of this action was twofold: to enhance service and BCP (Business Continuity Plan) while simultaneously lowering the carbon footprint for its European customers.

What is ClasSiC™?

ClasSiC™ alumina polishing slurries are high-precision slurries specifically formulated for the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of silicon carbide wafers used in the fabrication of LED and power electronic devices.
ClasSiC™ CMP slurries greatly enhance removal rate and planarization performance, delivering an excellent surface finish on SiC wafers. Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide, or SiC, is an evolving and growing substrate material that can take semiconductor chips to higher power at higher temperatures with higher efficiency for customers’ processes.
semiconductor

New line motivated by customer proximity and air shipping reduction

By producing in France, Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning will remove air shipment for European customers, resulting in reduced lead times and enhanced supply and logistics dependability. The decision to develop a second supply out of France to be the primary supply for European customers was driven by the company's commitment to supporting its local customers. It also presented a valuable opportunity to diminish the environmental impact of the value chain, including carbon footprint.

Reduced environmental impact

How is the carbon footprint reduced?

The reduction in shipping distance and the elimination of air shipping resulted in a decrease in the carbon footprint. This new line was opened while maintaining the production and quality standards, to continue providing customers with the expected level of service.
 

downstream transportation
How much reduction?

Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning has achieved a significant reduction in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and total energy consumption by 90% and 86% (per FU of product delivered to customer), respectively for its ClasSiC™ product, with the establishment of its new production facility in France. This decrease not only affects its own production but also has a positive impact on the entire supply chain, enabling our customers to benefit from reduced environmental impact for their semiconductor’s applications.

The gain was confirmed by a cradle-to-gate with option Life Cycle Assessment, reviewed by a 3rd party.
 

scope of the study
results of the study
What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

As part of its transparency strategy, Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning uses Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to assess the potential environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. The LCA is a scientific method that is based on international standards ISO 14040 and 14044 and uses several indicators, not just carbon footprint. 
 

ICA methodology
A step towards sustainability

The new manufacturing line of ClasSiC™ in France is a great step Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning is taking to get closer to its customers and become more sustainable. The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainable development by using new production methods, minimizing waste, switching packaging, and reducing energy consumption.

Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning is also investing in research and development to create innovative solutions to provide sustainable products that meet the needs of its customers while preserving resources. The business is highly active in growing markets such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, new battery manufacturing…

Join us in our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the environmental impact of your semiconductor application. Get in touch with us