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About Toshiba > Social and Environmental Activities > Environmental Management > Management > System:
After conducting environmental audits for the first time in 1989, Toshiba Group developed a comprehensive environmental auditing system (EASTER*) and has been using the system since FY1993 to conduct audits based on standards established by the group. The auditing system initially developed was composed of four categories: (1) system audits (environmental activity promotion systems, etc.), (2) on-site audits (levels of compliance with rules regarding environmental facilities, etc.), (3) VPE audits (levels of achievement of goals set in voluntary plans), and (4) technology audits (product environment management system, environmental performance, etc.). Audits were conducted in two days to check these items. The most important of these categories were onsite audits, reflecting the shop-floor approach emphasized by Toshiba. This approach is incorporated into the approach of site environment audits conducted today.
Environmental technology audits of products became an independent category in 1995. Environmental management audits were started in FY2004 to evaluate the level of environmental management in in-house companies and key group companies.
These multiple audits have been integrated into a single system since FY2006 so that they could all be conducted at once. Toshiba Group conducts environmental management audits covering in house companies and 14 key group companies, environmental technology audits of products covering 40 divisions, and site environment audits covering 225 business sites, including non manufacturing sites and non-consolidated subsidiaries. In-house companies and group companies conduct self-audits (self-inspections) within their companies based on the same standards in order to check business sites with relatively low levels of environmental impact that are not covered by site environment audits. Toshiba Group is working to develop a management system based on ISO 14001 and to ensure performance through EASTER audits in order to achieve a high level of environmental management, including assurance of compliance with regulations, strengthening of risk management, development of environmentally conscious products and environmental measures in manufacturing.
The number of audits that are conducted, including self-audits, is increasing annually and the total number of audits conducted since FY1993 has exceeded 2,000. We also provide in-house training for auditors who conduct EASTER audits. In order to provide the know-how about audits and auditor training programs developed within Toshiba Group for public use, we are planning to offer consulting services as part of the business of Term Corporation, one of Toshiba's group companies.
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