As the world celebrates Earth Day on Friday, April 22, KLA recognizes the work its employees do around the world to improve the environments in which they live and work, reinforcing the company’s commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities.
“KLA’s corporate citizenship journey began when we opened our doors in 1976. As a leading equipment manufacturer in the global semiconductor industry, KLA is proud to be part of the most significant technological breakthroughs. With success comes responsibility and we are committed to sustainably growing a profitable business by holding ourselves to challenging environmental targets as part of our broader strategy to advance humanity, including through our ESG programs.”
Rick Wallace, President and CEO of KLA
Deeply embedded in the company’s culture, KLA’s ESG commitment is demonstrated across its global locations. Here are some examples of KLA employees embracing this year’s Earth Day theme to #InvestInOurPlanet by acting and innovating boldly to solve the planet’s climate crisis – not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year.
Seeing the Forest for its Trees
In Israel, KLA employees of the Orbotech division based in Yavne contributed to the reforestation and restoration of an area near Jerusalem where 4.6 square miles of forestland was destroyed by a huge wildfire in August 2021. On behalf of its workforce, KLA donated one tree per employee to be planted in the burn area in 2023 as part of a recovery from this devastating blaze. With support from the Jewish National Fund, KLA Migdal HaEmek finished converting a road surrounding the campus into a well-kept hiking trail through a dense forest. KLA has created a scenic walking path with benches, tables and sitting areas that many employees enjoy before, during and after work hours.
In Singapore, 50 employees planted 60 trees on a road near the KLA Singapore office as part of the Plant-A-Tree Program, a joint initiative of the One Million Trees Movement, which seeks to restore nature by planting more than 1 million trees in 10 years; and the Garden City Fund, a government-sponsored nonprofit committed to optimizing green spaces in Singapore.
KLA’s new ultramodern, environmentally sustainable campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan is surrounded by the natural beauty of a large wooded area with tall trees, which employee volunteers will clean on Earth Day and care for the rest of the year. Employee volunteers will pick up litter and maintain the walking paths through the woods to keep them safe and in good condition. Participants will receive an Earth Day-themed gift to commemorate the project.
Helping Migratory Birds Survive
KLA Taiwan employees volunteered to help maintain oceanside habitats for migratory birds on the southern part of the island. They planted scores of halophytes, which are hardy, salt-tolerant plants that grow in highly salty soils or waters, to prevent sand erosion and seawater incursion into freshwater areas. These plants are an important component of fragile and often rapidly diminishing ecosystems that serve as homes for a wide range of birds and other animals.
“Everyone embraced the opportunity to learn more about sustainability and the distinct environmental dynamics of this region,” explained Tom Wang, president of KLA Taiwan.
Employees Reduce Air Pollution and Get a Workout by Biking to the Office
KLA employees in Milpitas, California commute to work daily on their cycles. By promoting cycling to the office as a healthy, environmentally friendly mode of transportation and providing plenty of safe and secure spaces for employees to store their bicycles while at work, KLA has earned its designation as an official Bike-Friendly Business.
At KLA in Newport, Wales, employees are helping to take care of the planet and get some exercise at the same time by participating in a cycle-to-work program sanctioned by the United Kingdom government. By not driving cars to the office, employees are reducing their carbon footprint and, by extension, air pollution. Through the “Cyberscheme,” KLA employees are able to purchase bicycles and associated safety equipment such as bike helmets.
“We offer Cyclescheme as a workplace benefit that gives employees a way to travel safely, boost their wellbeing, save on commuting costs and get some fresh air at the same time,” said Emma Lovell, Compensation and Benefits, Wales.
Andrew Cade (left) is among almost 30 employees in Wales to receive certificates for participating in the Cyclescheme program.
KLA’s ESG Journey
For almost five decades, KLA has overcome monumental technological challenges that have improved lives and advanced humanity. KLA applies its expertise and innovative thinking to consider ESG in its operations, seeks to make a positive impact within communities where it operates and helps customers achieve their own ESG goals.
KLA is on a journey to improve its understanding of the evolving ESG topics most relevant to the company and its stakeholders, manage them accordingly and drive improvements in overall performance. As part of this commitment to do and be better, KLA has set a goal to use 100% renewable electricity across its global operations by 2030.
At facilities around the world, KLA’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle ethos are the guiding principles employees should take to decrease the volume of waste generated by the company and improve the efficiency of overall waste management initiatives. Reducing the amount of disposed waste conserves natural resources, landfill space and energy.
Looking ahead, the company will continue building out its long-term ESG strategy and supporting activities with an eye toward further reducing its environmental footprint, increasing disclosures, and deepening the positive impact KLA delivers through its proactive business and community engagement.
Learn more about KLA’s ESG goals in its most recent Global Impact Report on the company’s ESG website.
Follow Us