It could not be a better time to do business in the Valley of the Sun, where the Phoenix region’s dominance in the microchip semiconductor industry is taking an already-booming economy to new levels of growth and opportunity.
Long recognized as a national leader in environmental innovation, the Phoenix region is setting the standard for high-tech manufacturing in the U.S. Because of the Valley’s historically strong track record for managing waste and water, it has emerged as a natural fit for tech giants in the semiconductor industry that are equally committed to environmental responsibility.
That’s why Veolia, the world’s largest environmental service company, recently expanded environmental service operations in Arizona through a combination of acquisitions, investment and organic growth. It is a key part of the company’s global “Green Up” strategy.
Semiconductors have become essential to modern life, found in everything from smartphones to medical devices to AI systems. Around the world, the industry is projected to grow exponentially in the coming decades, with sales in 2024 reaching $627 billion alone. Estimates indicate that momentum will continue, hitting $697 billion in 2025, $1 trillion by 2030 and $2 trillion by 2040.
No region in America has been more impacted by this demand than Greater Phoenix. In recent years, this growth has created more than 33,000 jobs — with thousands more anticipated in the near future — and spurred demand across supporting industries, especially those helping manufacturers meet ambitious sustainability targets.
One of the key environmental topics for the semiconductor industry is waste reduction. Companies like Veolia work with the industry to reduce their waste volume, recycle valuable materials and ensure the waste that can’t be recycled is managed responsibly and sustainably. Our recent acquisition of Chameleon Industries, a highly regarded waste management firm with a strong presence in Arizona that specializes in supporting the semiconductor industry with chemical recycling and reuse technology, is just one example of the important role Arizona plays in our growth strategy, both in the U.S. and globally.
In September, Veolia’s water business unveiled its first and most advanced North American digital operation center in Scottsdale. The center, called Hubgrade, combines real-time data, advanced AI and Veolia’s industry-leading human expertise to help water and wastewater treatment plants reduce energy consumption, improve chemical efficiency and sludge management — all of which are significant costs for municipalities and their ratepayers. Hubgrade can help cities and towns as well as commercial customers achieve greater operational efficiency and cost-savings, in some cases as much as $30 million over the long-term life of a water treatment plant.
Today’s environmental challenges are indeed complex, not just in Arizona but around the world — but the opportunities are even greater. By minimizing hazardous waste, reducing chemical consumption, reclaiming valuable metals, reducing energy consumption and expanding water reuse, manufacturers can dramatically reduce their environmental footprint. Even small steps — like recycling plastic and wood pallets or reusing packaging — can have an outsized impact. Sustainability doesn’t stop with waste reduction.
In Greater Phoenix and beyond, manufacturers must meet rising regulatory standards and community expectations. Environmental partners like Veolia can be critical assets, helping the business community turn waste into resources; maintain business continuity; and develop cost-effective, safe and compliant strategies.
Phoenix is more than a semiconductor hub — it is a model for how economic development and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. That’s a vision we share at Veolia and it’s why we are proud to be part of the story of what’s happening in Arizona, providing a guidepost for a more sustainable future at a time when the stakes could not be higher.
Bob Cappadona is president and CEO of the Environmental Solutions and Services business for Veolia North America, which specializes in the sustainable management of hazardous waste. He has held numerous positions with the company since joining the company in 1991.
Cappadona started his environmental career in 1987 as an environmental, health and safety engineer for the General Electric Company in Somerville, N.J. Two years later, as the EHS manager for GE’s semiconductor manufacturing operations in the United States and Europe, he experienced first-hand the falling of the Berlin Wall and the massive San Francisco earthquake and the environmental issues that ensued.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Cappadona has completed extensive graduate studies in toxicology at Michigan and environmental health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Did You Know: Veolia, the world’s largest environmental service company, processes 1.8 million tons of industrial waste each year in North America. Founded in 1853, it is the only company of its kind with a validated science-based greenhouse gas reduction target.
