Semiconductor makers are under pressure to cut emissions and localise supply. Refurbished equipment offers a way to reduce waste, shorten lead times, and support sustainability – without sacrificing performance.

Semiconductor manufacturers face mounting pressure to produce more, innovate faster, and operate more sustainably. Kenneth Lee Wee Ching, CEO of Global TechSolutions (GTS), believes the answer to achieving better environmental practice lies in how the industry treats its tools – not just its chips.

Sustainability starts with supply chain design

As countries push to localise chip production, especially in Southeast Asia, fabs (chip fabrication plants) are under pressure to rethink how and where they operate. “There’s a real shift happening,” Lee says. “Localisation isn’t just about independence – it’s about lowering emissions, cutting waste, and creating more resilient supply chains.”

To meet these goals, GTS runs cleanroom-certified refurbishment facilities in Singapore and Taiwan, with a Malaysia facility coming online soon. The regional footprint supports local production with nearshore access to high-quality refurbished tools and parts. It eliminates the need to ship equipment around the globe or rely on brand-new machinery.

“By keeping critical equipment closer to where it’s used, we’re helping customers reduce their environmental impact and respond faster to production needs,” Lee says.

Matching speed with responsibility

The drive for faster chip output comes with heavy resource demands – from raw materials to energy use. GTS sees refurbishment as a way to meet production goals while easing the environmental burden.

“Our facilities aren’t just warehouses – they’re built for precision,” says Lee. The company operates 25,000-square-foot sites with Class 100 and Class 1000 cleanrooms, meeting front-end semiconductor manufacturing standards. Equipment is tested on customised platforms that simulate actual fab conditions before being cleared for use.

“We don’t just restore functionality,” Lee says, “we validate performance. Our tools meet the same benchmarks customers expect from brand-new equipment.”

This reduces raw material consumption, lowers emissions from manufacturing and logistics, and helps fabs avoid costly downtime.

Barriers remain – but they’re solvable

Despite clear gains in cost and sustainability, refurbishment remains underused. Lee points to three main roadblocks.

First, qualification timelines for front-end tools are long – sometimes up to a year. “That alone makes many fabs reluctant to consider alternative sourcing,” he says.

Second, there’s a perception issue. “Refurbished doesn’t always mean reliable in people’s minds, especially if the vendor doesn’t specialise in semiconductors,” Lee notes.

Third, many large fabs operate under strict supply chain protocols that leave little room for flexibility. “It’s not that they don’t want better options. It’s that they’re locked into rigid systems.”

GTS addresses the three roadblocks as it sees them with rigorous engineering standards, offering fab-specific validation, and providing warranties equivalent to new parts. “Customers want confidence. We give them that with process control and transparency,” Lee says.

Tackling e-waste at the equipment level

Semiconductor sustainability discussions often focus on chip efficiency. But the machines behind chip production are a major source of waste.

“As production ramps up, so does e-waste – from outdated or idle equipment that still has years of life left,” says Lee. “We need to stop viewing these assets as disposable.”

GTS focuses on keeping high-value equipment in use. Rather than defaulting to replacement, the company helps manufacturers refurbish and re-qualify what they already have. This avoids new emissions and reduces the need for virgin material extraction.

It’s a circular approach that serves both ESG targets and the bottom line. “We’re showing that sustainability and performance aren’t at odds – they can reinforce each other,” Lee says.

Refurbished tools that perform like new

Performance is a non-negotiable in this industry. Lee says GTS tools are engineered to match new ones in reliability and efficiency.

“We test everything under cleanroom conditions, aligned to the exact specs of each customer’s fab,” he says. “That’s how we ensure consistent results, stable uptime, and no surprises in production.”

Importantly, refurbished tools come with warranty terms identical to new components. “We’re not asking customers to compromise,” Lee adds. “We’re giving them a smarter option.”

Making refurbishment a standard, not a fallback

For refurbishment to become a regular part of the supply chain, Lee says fabs need to start thinking differently. “Right now, many only look at refurbished parts when something breaks or when there’s a shortage,” he explains. “That’s too late in the process.”

GTS recommends including refurbishment in early-stage procurement planning and approval cycles. “If you bake it into the process from the start, you can qualify parts on your timeline – not during a crisis.”

The industry would also benefit from common standards to measure environmental savings – metrics like emissions avoided, materials conserved, and energy saved. “That data helps make the case,” Lee says.

Policy incentives could also drive change. “Carbon credits, tax breaks, or government reuse programs would help mainstream this approach,” he suggests. “Right now, the benefits are real but under-acknowledged.”

For Lee, the message is simple: “Refurbishment works. It’s reliable. It’s sustainable. And it’s ready to scale.”

(Photo by Unsplash)