US chipmaker Micron designates China plant as global sustainability hub

U.S. memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. will designate its semiconductor packaging and testing plant in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, as its first global sustainability center following major environmental upgrades.

Micron's booth at the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), July 19, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The initiative will strengthen sustainable operations and advance China's low-carbon economy while enhancing global semiconductor supply chain sustainability, company representatives told China.org.cn at the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) last week.

Micron announced a 4.3 billion yuan ($600 million) investment in June 2023 to upgrade its Xi'an operations, including the construction of new facilities and advanced production lines.

The company began the construction phase in May 2024. The investment will expand the site's existing Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) packaging and testing capabilities, which have been operating since 2006, Micron said.

In May 2025, Micron completed production equipment installation at its upgraded Xi'an facility. The company has ranked as Shaanxi province's top importer and exporter for 18 consecutive years, according to 2024 statistics, reflecting more than two decades of operations in China since establishing its first presence in Xiamen, Fujian province.

Micron operates facilities in Xi'an as its global manufacturing hub for DRAM packaging, testing and module production; Shanghai for research and development, customer labs and commercial operations; and Beijing and Shenzhen for customer labs and technical support, the company said.

As of May 2025, Micron's Xi'an facility has achieved a 91% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2020 levels, transitioned to 100% renewable electricity, achieved a 77% water conservation rate and eliminated waste sent to landfills, according to company data.

The facility has implemented four environmental initiatives: switching to climate-friendly thermal fluid that eliminates 43,400 tons of emissions annually, upgrading refrigeration systems that cut an additional 1,800 tons of greenhouse gases yearly, installing heat pumps that reuse waste heat, and building a water purification system that recycles industrial wastewater and saves 300,000 cubic meters of freshwater annually, Micron said.

The Xi'an facility has already received sustainability recognition, including designation as a National Green Factory by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2020, zero carbon factory certification from the China Quality Certification Center in 2024, and recognition as a water-efficient enterprise by the Xi'an government in 2025.

At the third CISCE, Micron displayed semiconductor technologies including 1-gamma DRAM and G9 NAND. Micron representatives said the company delivers memory and storage solutions that enable customers to develop applications using advanced manufacturing processes.

Micron has been recognized as a popular employer in China, earning seven consecutive Great Place to Work certifications from 2018 to 2024 and five Top Graduate Employer Awards from 2020 to 2024 awarded by 51job.