Toshiba 2001 Annual Report Download - page 16

Fiscal 2001 heralded the start of Toshiba’s third voluntary environmental plan,
which also sets targets for the Mid-Term Environmental Plan, integrating envi-
ronmental protection activities and goals with business operations. In February
2001, Toshiba’s 10th Environmental Technology Exhibition, an event open to the
public, showcased efforts to cast Toshiba as a recycling-oriented company. Other
initiatives in fiscal 2000 included the introduction of environmental accounting
and “green procurement.”
Toshiba’s second voluntary environmental plan ended in fiscal
2000. The plan set out 12 targets, including implementation
of product assessments and reducing the volume of parts and
materials that pose challenges in recycling. Toshiba is pleased to announce that the
majority of these targets were achieved.
The third voluntary environmental plan, launched in fiscal 2001, widens its coverage
to all processes from manufacturing to recycling. Key goals include reducing the
volume of chemical waste and other waste for processing, recycling end-of-life prod-
ucts, employing lead-free solder, and engaging in “green procurement.” The plan
adds substantial momentum to Toshiba’s comprehensive efforts to become a truly
recycling-oriented company.
Toshiba is continually developing products offering enhanced
energy efficiency. Toshiba takes a proactive approach to energy
conservation at its offices, and is working to prevent global
warming through dedicated efforts to reduce CO2emissions. Toshiba has set itself
the target of reducing the ratio of CO2emissions to net sales by 25% by fiscal 2010
compared with fiscal 1990 levels. Currently, Toshiba is achieving levels 1% above
those it is obliged to meet under energy conservation laws. In fiscal 2000, Toshiba
reduced CO2emissions by 3% compared with the previous fiscal year, and 2% com-
pared with fiscal 1990. The ratio of CO2emissions to net sales improved 11% year
on year, and by 17% compared with fiscal 1990.
In semiconductor and LCD production, the ratio of CO2emissions to net sales im-
proved 25% on fiscal 1990 levels, despite a 34% increase in CO2emissions. CO2
emissions from operations connected to information & communications and social
infrastructure systems, power systems and home appliances declined by between
40–46%.
Toshiba is committed to becoming a recycling-oriented compa-
ny that reduces environmental loads in all product processes
from manufacturing to use and reuse. Under this concept,
Toshiba engages in a diverse range of environmental initiatives, including effective
use of resources, efforts to prevent global warming, enhanced control of chemical
substances, development of environmentally responsible products, and recycling
end-of-life products. Profiled below are just some of Toshiba’s activities.
■Zero Emission of Waste Products
Measures to control environmental loads start with efforts to cut consumption of
electricity, heavy oils, kerosene and water, as well as the volume of chemicals and
waste. The total waste generated by the Toshiba Group in fiscal 2000 amounted to
186,000 tons, a 4,000 ton increase reflecting rising net sales. However, 91% of this
was recycled and the 7,000 tons sent to landfills represented a 1,000 ton decrease
TOSHIBA AND THE ENVIRONMENT
14
Results of the Second
Voluntary Environmental Plan
and Vision for the Future
Efforts to Prevent
Global Warming
Reducing the Environmental
Burden from Production
to Recycling