Natural capital is one of the key resources for corporate operations, and various operational activities interact with and influence natural ecosystems. GIGABYTE has long been concerned with environmental issues and is committed to taking action within its own operations to prevent operational activities from harming biodiversity. At the same time, in response to the “Zero Deforestation by 2050” initiative and to achieve the vision of “Zero Net Loss of Nature and Positive Net Benefits,” the company has established the “ Biodiversity and No Deforestation Commitment” as a guiding principle for promoting biodiversity management.

Natural Capital Dependency Analysis

GIGABYTE adopts the LEAP methodology recommended by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) to assess the impact and dependency of its business services on natural capital. Based on the ENCORE database and materiality screening, the company identified the degree of dependency of its value chain on environmental assets. The analysis revealed that up to 67% of the dependency is concentrated in the upstream raw material production and component manufacturing stages. A closer examination of the top five environmental assets by dependency reveals: soil and sediments, terrestrial landforms, species, ecological structural integrity, and water resources; the top seven ecosystem services by dependency include: water provision, water purification, flood regulation, storm mitigation, flow regulation, rainfall pattern regulation, and local atmospheric and ecosystem dilution and buffering functions.

Environmental Dependency Analysis of GIGABYTEʼs Value Chain

To further understand the impact of value chain operations on natural capital, GIGABYTE utilized the database of significant environmental impact factors established for various industries within the ENCORE platform. By incorporating and performing a weighted analysis of the value chainʼs dependence on natural capital at each stage, the company ultimately identified six potential environmental impact drivers ranked by materiality, including “emissions of hazardous substances into soil and water, disturbances such as noise and light pollution, volume of water use, non-GHG air pollution emissions, generation and discharge of solid waste, and GHG emissions.”

Environmental Impact Drivers of Value Chain Operations

Value Chain Operational Sites and Biodiversity Conservation Areas

GIGABYTE utilized the IUCNʼs definition of protected areas to conduct an overlay analysis of its own operational sites, top 100 suppliers, upstream smelters, and downstream service locations. The results showed that GIGABYTEʼs own operational sites, overseas affiliates, the operational sites of its top 100 suppliers, and downstream after-sales service locations are not directly located within protected areas. To deepen our protection of surrounding ecosystems, GIGABYTE further centered the analysis on our operational sites in Taiwan and extended the analysis radius outward by 2 to 10 kilometers. Through this risk screening, we aim to identify potential indirect impacts and ecological dependencies, thereby establishing corresponding preventive measures or environmental education initiatives to address potential impacts. At the same time, we have traced back to smelters further upstream in the value chain to examine their overlap with ecological conservation areas. Analysis results indicate that approximately 5% of smelters may be at risk of being located within ecological conservation areas.

Nature-Related Risk and Opportunity Management Strategy

Transition Risks

Risk Expansion of hazardous substance regulations Stricter air emission regulations Tighter waste disposal regulations
Environmental Impact Factor Emission of hazardous substances into soil and water Non-GHG air pollution emissions Generation and discharge of solid waste
Timeframe Short-term Long-term Short-term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Non-compliant materials may lead to penalties or supply disruptions
  • Operations: Non-compliant materials may result in fines or sales bans
  • Upstream & Operations: Upgrade air emission control equipment to ensure compliance
  • Operations: Increased cost of e-waste disposal
  • Downstream: Penalties for improper e-waste handling
Management Strategy
  • Track and manage suppliersʼ environmental impact
  • Implement hazardous chemical management with targets
  • Strengthen product stewardship and set goals
Implement air emission monitoring and improvement
  • Implement e-waste recycling operations
  • Strengthen product stewardship and set goals
Risk Ban on hazardous raw materials requiring alternatives
Environmental Impact Factor Emission of hazardous substances into soil and water
Timeframe Short to mid-term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Higher cost of alternative materials
  • Operations: Increased product cost due to pricier components
Management Strategy
  • Implement hazardous chemical management with targets
  • Promote sustainable raw material management
Risk Increased consumer awareness of product safety
Environmental Impact Factor Emission of hazardous substances into soil and water
Timeframe Short-term
Impact Scope Operations: Enhance product verification and labeling to ensure safety
Management Strategy
  • Strengthen product stewardship and set goals
  • Improve product information transparency
Risk Noise from manufacturing/testing affecting humans and wildlife
Environmental Impact Factor Disturbances such as noise and light pollution
Timeframe Short-term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Raw material extraction may disturb wildlife behavior
  • Operations: Compensate or mitigate noise impact on lab personnel
Management Strategy Implement noise monitoring and improvement

Physical Risks

Risk Soil/water pollution
Environmental Impact Factor Emission of hazardous substances into soil and water
Timeframe Mid-short term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Pollution increases defect rate in processes/materials
  • Operations: Higher defect rate affects product quality
Management Strategy
  • Monitor and improve wastewater discharge
  • Implement recycling of e-waste and business waste
Risk Water scarcity Smog and acid rain
Environmental Impact Factor Volume of water use Non-GHG air pollution emissions
Timeframe Mid-term Long-term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Water shortage disrupts supply of key components
  • Operations: Supply disruption affects shipments
  • Downstream: Component shortage affects repair services
Upstream & Operations: Increased cost for cleanroom equipment
Management Strategy Promote water resource management (e.g., conservation, reuse)
  • Implement ISO14001 environmental management
  • Monitor and improve air emissions

Nature-Related Opportunities

Opportunity Rising demand for green products Enhanced ESG ratings through positive brand image
Environmental Impact Factor Hazardous substance emissions to soil/water
Timeframe Mid-Long term Short-term
Impact Scope
  • Upstream: Use of eco-friendly materials may attract brand orders
  • Operations: Eco-friendly products may earn environmental labels and boost market visibility
Operations: Conservation efforts help maintain ecosystem services of soil and water
Management Strategy Invest in green product R&D and design
  • Promote environmental conservation projects
  • Collaborate with affiliates/suppliers on joint actions
Opportunity Growth of circular economy market
Environmental Impact Factor Solid waste generation
Timeframe Short-term
Impact Scope
  • Operations: Develop circular product design to enhance material reuse
  • Downstream: Offer refurbishment/recycling services to capture new business opportunities
Management Strategy Develop circular economy services

Biodiversity Management Strategy

GIGABYTE actively promotes biodiversity management, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable development. The strategy is built around four key pillars:

  1. Enhancing Operational Environmental Management – Monitoring and managing emissions related to manufacturing processes to reduce ecological disturbances.
  2. Implementing Product Stewardship – Promoting green design and recycling mechanisms to reduce environmental pollution from electronic waste.
  3. Managing Supplier Environmental Impact – Improving sustainability performance across the supply chain to build a sustainable value chain.
  4. Environmental Compensation Actions – Engaging in activities such as afforestation and habitat restoration to give back to nature.

Through diverse initiatives, GIGABYTE is committed to comprehensive biodiversity protection.