Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Micron Technology, Inc., join forces to develop gas solutions with a low global warming potential (GWP). After a year of iterative collaboration, Micron is now testing an alternative low-GWP Etch gas from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's Research & Development unit to validate its process performance to replace a traditional, high-GWP material. The goal: new, more sustainable gas solutions are to be introduced permanently into production in the future.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Micron look back on a long-standing, trusted business relationship. The test of a new gas with low global warming potential is to be just the beginning of the cooperation in the area of sustainability. Both companies are working to find new materials to replace various etching gases with high global warming potential that are used in dry etch and chamber cleaning applications.

This can contribute to achieving the sustainability goals of both companies. In May 2022, the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has confirmed that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany's climate targets corresponded to the current status of climate science. Consequently, the company is helping to limit global warming to 1.5°C, thus meeting the requirements of the Paris Agreement.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has committed to lowering its absolute direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The majority of these greenhouse gas emissions is stemming from process-related emissions during the production of specialty chemicals for the electronics industry. With improved processes, the company can significantly reduce those emissions in the future.

At the same time Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany aims to reduce its indirect emissions along the entire value chain (Scope 3) by 52% per euro value added by 2030.