Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the increasing environmental impact of the digital industry, particularly through the lens of the semiconductor sector, which relies heavily on high-purity materials and complex supply chains [1][4][45]. Group 1: Environmental Impact of the Digital Industry - The digital sector's materiality is often discussed from the perspective of mining activities, highlighting the need for specific raw materials like lithium and cobalt for ICT products [3][4]. - Recent trends in artificial intelligence and edge computing have intensified concerns about the environmental footprint of large tech companies [3][4]. - The United Nations reports that key elements for ICT technologies represent only 0.77% of all mined elements, indicating a limited but critical demand for specific materials [3][4]. Group 2: Semiconductor Industry Materiality - The semiconductor industry is central to the digital sector, with microchips requiring a diverse range of materials and extremely high purity levels [5][8]. - The complexity of the semiconductor supply chain makes it challenging to analyze its environmental impact, as many upstream processes remain opaque [4][12]. - The industry now requires over 85% of non-radioactive elements from the periodic table, reflecting a significant shift in material requirements over the past 30 years [11][24]. Group 3: Purity Requirements and Case Studies - The article proposes a purity-based approach to understanding the materiality of semiconductors, focusing on the diversity of elements and their purity requirements [14][45]. - Case studies on silicon, aluminum, gold, and neon illustrate how purity demands shape the supply chain and environmental impacts [31][33][34][37]. - For instance, silicon requires a purity level of 11N (99.999999999%), necessitating multiple industrial processes that have significant environmental implications [31][32]. Group 4: Supply Chain Dependencies - The semiconductor industry's reliance on high-purity materials creates dependencies on other industrial sectors, such as steel production for neon gas purification [38][41]. - The article highlights that the production of ultra-pure materials often involves energy-intensive processes, raising concerns about the environmental footprint of these supply chains [41][45]. - The increasing complexity of manufacturing processes and the need for diverse materials will likely escalate as technology advances, further complicating the industry's environmental impact [45].