Lam Research

Lam Research, headquartered in Fremont, California, is a U.S.-based semiconductor equipment manufacturer that supplies wafer fabrication equipment and services for chip production. The company's use of water in chillers, scrubbers, cooling systems, process tools, and soft water treatment plants makes water management a critical aspect of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

Lam Research's most significant water sustainability achievement is its wastewater reduction and reclamation initiatives in Ohio. In 2023, the company installed a water reclamation system at its Springfield facility, resulting in a 50% reduction in city water use at the water purification plant. In 2025, Lam implemented a similar system in Eaton, Ohio, to reclaim deionized water from the part-rinsing process, saving over 6 million gallons of water since its inception. Additionally, Lam introduced a system in Springfield to reuse water for the facility's Power Flush, which cleans the central heating system using high-velocity, low-pressure water, saving 2.4 million gallons annually. The company also installed cooling tower submeters to improve the accuracy of water consumption measurements.

Lam Research reported cumulative water savings exceeding 85 million gallons compared to its 2019 baseline, with 4.5 million gallons saved in 2025 alone. The company's total reported annual water savings amounted to 4,511,400 gallons.

In 2025, Lam Research completed a water risk assessment that evaluated local water risks across most of its global sites. The assessment considered factors such as physical water quantity and quality, regulatory risks, and reputational risks. The findings enabled Lam to identify watersheds requiring increased attention and opportunities for collaboration with governments and nonprofit organizations.

Lam Research contributed to community water resilience in Malaysia through the Greenwater Project in partnership with Water Watch Penang. This initiative enabled six schools to collect and reuse rainwater onsite. In the first year following installation, the schools collected an estimated 500,000 liters of water, thereby reducing reliance on local water supplies. Over 40 Lam employees participated in the project, and educational programs reached more than 1,400 students.