January 13, 2023

    In the Qorvo Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report*, we share our approach, policies and process to maintain our status as a good, global corporate citizen. This work affects people, local and extended communities and the environment. This post offers an overview of our Fiscal Year 2022 CSR initiatives and why they matter.

    About Qorvo's CSR Initiatives
    The Qorvo CSR program covers matters that affect our key stakeholders, including suppliers, investors, employees, communities and customers. These include:

    • Employee health and safety
    • Responsible sourcing
    • Environmental protection

    This year’s CSR report provides additional information on topics like energy consumption, waste management, early career programs and workforce training and development.

    “We expanded on several topics and provided additional metrics this year,” said Carla Susmilch, Qorvo's Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). “On the environmental side, we provided more data on our energy consumption as well as additional detail on our waste management program. On the social side, we included qualitative and quantitative information on early career programs and workforce training and development. Another area where we provided more detail is our product mix and highlighted our smart energy product offerings.”



    The Qorvo CSR initiatives include all of Qorvo's stakeholders ranging from customers and suppliers to investors, employees, associations and local communities.

    Our commitment to this responsibility starts with a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that holds all directors, officers and employees of Qorvo accountable to the highest level of ethical standards. Several communications channels, managed by third parties, are in place to gather employee feedback to help monitor these efforts.

    Qorvo also has a supplier monitoring program that aligns with the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) code of conduct. “We hold our suppliers to our high standards,” Susmilch said. The code guides our engagements, supply chain assessments and training opportunities, and the steps needed to ensure that our suppliers understand Qorvo's expectations for maintaining a socially responsible supply chain.

    “We have customers focused on reducing their environmental footprint – whether it’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction, conservation of natural resources, or recycling efforts. Many times, those initiatives impact the supply chain – and as a supplier, we engage with our customers on these topics.”

    — Carla Susmilch, Qorvo's Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

    Our CSR initiative guides our commitment to providing a safe work environment for our employees. Our strong safety culture, which includes the utilization of a hierarchy of controls, and near-miss and injury reporting, produces a recordable rate below the industry average. We have a substantial training environment for employee development and programs that guide communication between employees and managers to encourage growth and productivity. To foster engagement, diversity and inclusion among our employees, we have formalized networking groups. We also monitor employee satisfaction through multiple channels, including, but not limited to, employee feedback and our open-door policy.

    For the sake of the planet, Qorvo employs an Environmental Management System (EMS). The system helps promote environmental stewardship, prevent pollution and meet all applicable environmental requirements. We set and review key performance objectives and targets to direct the efforts of the organization to reduce, reuse, recycle and preserve our natural resources. “We have enhanced reporting on our environmental performance,” Susmilch said. “I think our stakeholders have noticed and appreciate that as well. We’ve done a lot of good work building out our program.”

    With respect to the communities in which we work and live, we support Qorvo Cares — our commitment to cultivating good. Goodwill, good connections and good fun. The Qorvo Cares Community Engagement program provides our employees with opportunities to get into their neighborhoods and spread kindness, generosity and support. The program focuses on three main areas: STEM education, good neighbor relations and environmental stewardship. We also conduct numerous employee events — from site picnics and holiday parties to wellness fairs and 5K runs/walks — which help build lasting connections.



    Qorvo's CSR initiatives have a direct impact on the environment. Above are several examples of our efforts.

    Three Reasons You Should Care

    1. Sustainability Leads to Innovation
      As your supplier of RF and power management devices, when we innovate, so do you. Industry experts have proven that companies that practice sustainability tend to be more innovative. Why? The theory, detailed here, is that when a company is driving toward better business practices, such as reducing energy and water usage, diverting waste materials, increasing efficiencies and meeting regulations, it's working under constraints that force it to be more resourceful, creative and inventive. This innovation eventually becomes second nature and shows up in other facets of the company, potentially winding up in new and novel products and technologies — the same ones that may end up on your bench and influence your designs.
    2. Supply Chain Management Provides a Foundation
      As your supplier, Qorvo's efforts carry through to the products you design and help to ensure those products meet the same requirements and can make a positive, socially responsible impact. And, while not all manufacturers are under the same scrutiny as chipmakers like Qorvo, it's only a matter of time until they're urged to meet similar requirements. You can rest easy knowing that Qorvo sets high expectations for its supply chain to meet both our conditions and those of our customers — from social, environmental, performance and quality perspectives. You can learn more about our rigorous supplier vetting, training, requirements and monitoring here.
    3. It's the Right Thing to Do
      From a humanitarian perspective, CSR initiatives are simply the right thing to do. One cannot argue that business ethics are vital to the world around us. Efforts such as reducing a company's carbon footprint to lessen its impact on the environment, working to eliminate slavery and human trafficking and creating equal opportunities and living wages are businesses' moral obligations. And it's the responsibility of everyone who works for us or does business with us, including customers and partners.

    Learn More:
    Get more information about Qorvo's Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and download our FY22 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report*

    *Please note that the Qorvo executives featured in Qorvo CSR Report reflect those who served in 2021-2022. Go to the Qorvo Executive Leadership webpage to get the most current information.

     

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    Qorvo Blog Team

    One part technical, one part content, and one part strategic, our small team is dedicated to connecting you with helpful, timely insights from some of the bright minds at Qorvo.