CEO Commitment

Continuing to Support Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Toshiba Group has channeled extensive resources into supporting recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Tohoku on March 11, 2011. As a developer of nuclear power generation systems, we realize the impact of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. At the request of the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc., we have made utmost efforts to implement measures that ensure the integrity of the site. Drawing on our technology and expertise, we developed simplified active water retrieve and recovery system, highly efficient equipment that operates stably to dispose contaminated water, which contributed to the cold shutdowns of the nuclear reactors, as well as the multi radioactive nuclides removal system, which can remove other types of radioactive substances in addition to cesium. We are currently working to install this system in order to improve the efficiency of contaminated water disposal. We have also developed portable water and soil disposal systems and proposed their application to administrative agencies and other entities.

In order to facilitate the recovery of the affected areas, we are working to support the development of new communities that are safe and environmentally conscious. Toshiba is sponsoring Minamisoma Solar Agri-Park project in Fukushima Prefecture. In this project, plans are being made to support children's development through teaching them how photovoltaic power generation is used to provide electricity to plant factories and other facilities and how power is generated as well as through giving them farming experience. We will also support Fukushima Prefecture's Iidate village in realizing its plan for recovery. In an effort to support new community development in cooperation with Miyagi Prefecture's Ishinomaki City and Fukushima Prefecture's Minamisoma City, we are also actively promoting the creation of smart communities that meet local needs through our business activities, thereby making extensive contributions to the restoration of Japan.

Working to Become One of the World’s Foremost Eco-companies Based on Integrity

Since my appointment as President and CEO of Toshiba, I have emphasized the need for unshakable integrity both inside and outside our company and have made it a goal to meet our responsibilities to society by ensuring legal compliance and minimizing risks throughout all of our business areas. In addition to supporting the restoration of Japan, we will play an important role in finding solutions to many other issues, such as strengthening energy security and mitigating global climate change. We will do so by providing Toshiba's unique products and services, which span a wide range of areas including digital products, electronic devices and social infrastructure products.

Under our “Toshiba eco style” global brand, Toshiba Group aims to become one of the world's foremost eco-companies in order to realize a world in which people lead affluent lifestyles in harmony with the Earth; this is our vision for 2050.

Promoting Environmental Management through Four Green Initiatives Based on the Fifth Environmental Action Plan

Toshiba Group has developed an Environmental Action Plan to pursue its vision for 2050 and is working to achieve specific goals based on this action plan. Since our first action plan formulated in 1993, we have continued to achieve higher goals, including increasing the number of initiative items and expanding the scope of governance. Having accelerated the schedule for the Fourth Environmental Action Plan, which was initially planned to be completed in 2012, we developed and launched the Fifth Environmental Action Plan in order to enhance our environmental programs.

In our efforts to become one of the world's foremost eco-companies, we added the concept of “Green Management” to the three concepts passed down from the Fourth Environmental Action Plan (Greening of Products, Greening by Technology and Greening of Process). We are promoting environmental management based on these four Green initiatives. At the same time, we are also working to achieve specific goals regarding increasing sales and contributing to environmental improvements, thereby further promoting integration between business and environmental management.

Greening of Products

Greening of Products refers to our initiatives aimed at achieving the highest level of environmental performance for all products that we develop in order to reduce environmental impact throughout product life cycles. We will accelerate the development of localized products to meet the individualized needs of different countries and areas, including developed countries where various energy-saving initiatives have been implemented as well as emerging countries where environmental impact is likely to increase as a result of economic growth. We will thereby further spread the use of Excellent ECPs featuring the highest levels of environmental performance. In 2015, we aim to achieve Excellent ECP sales of 1.8 trillion yen as well as a mitigation in CO₂ emissions of 15 million tons made possible by our products. We will also actively promote measures encouraging the use of recycled materials and reducing the use of specified chemical substances with the aim of mitigating global environmental impact.

Greening by Technology

Greening by Technology refers to our initiatives aimed at providing a stable power supply and mitigating climate change through the use of low-carbon energy technologies. We will enhance our programs to develop renewable energy sources, including solar, hydro, geothermal and wind power. At the same time, we will also promote the improved efficiency in thermal power generation technology and commercialization of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology, as well as the development of new thermal power generation cycles designed to capture CO₂ more easily and safer nuclear power generation technologies. In addition, we will develop solutions for smart grids, the next generation power distribution systems that enable effective use of renewable energy and provide a stable power supply. Our aim is to create smart communities-i.e., next-generation communities which realize integrated management and optimal control of infrastructure systems in all areas of social life, including power and water supply, transportation, and medical care. As of May 2012, Toshiba Group participates in 27 experimental and commercial projects both in Japan and overseas with a view to creating smart communities that meet the high-priority needs of individual areas. In FY2015, we aim to achieve energy-related product sales of 1.9 trillion yen and a mitigation in CO₂ emissions of 490 million tons, thereby contributing to the achievement of the optimal mix of energy sources as well as the realization of a sustainable low-carbon society.

Greening of Process

Greening of Process refers to our initiatives aimed at minimizing procurement of materials for production in Japan and overseas, reducing energy consumption in manufacturing, reducing discharge of waste and chemicals, and keeping environmental impact to a minimum even if production increases. As a result of our efforts to reduce power consumption for air conditioning and lighting and restrict the use of electricity by Toshiba Group companies in Japan since immediately after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, we succeeded in reducing power consumption by 11% in FY2011 compared to the previous year. In FY2012, we plan to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30,000 tons through making energy-saving investments of 3.7 billion yen. In the Fifth Environmental Action Plan, we aim to reduce costs as well as environmental impact through high-efficiency manufacturing designed to promote the mitigation of climate change, the effective use of resources, and the management of chemicals. We will strive to increase environmental efficiency to 1.5 times the FY2000 level by FY2015, thereby achieving one of the world's lowest levels of environmental impacts.

Green Management

Green Management refers to our initiatives aimed at training personnel for environmental activities as well as continuing to improve basic activities such as environmental management, environmental communication, and conservation of biodiversity. In our Fifth Environmental Action Plan, we set three new goals. The first is to conserve biodiversity. We will create worldwide ecosystem networks supported by collaboration among the areas around our production sites and promote the preservation of animal and plant ecosystems by making the most of the characteristics of each individual production site. Our second goal is to provide environmental education and train environmental personnel. We will promote the training of Toshiba eco-style leaders for environmental activities and register 2,000 eco-style leaders by FY2015 in order to accelerate environmental activities at our production sites. Our third goal is to facilitate environmental communication. To this end, some 200,000 employees working at Toshiba Group companies around the world will take an active part in developing environmental activities rooted in their local communities, thereby establishing a global environmental communication network that connects people together.

In Conclusion

The philosophy of serving the public with passion and commitment to innovation, which Toshiba Group has carried down for 137 years, is firmly incorporated into our company's DNA. As we accelerate our global business development, we hope to provide our products and services to a greater number of people so that we can realize a world in which all people lead affluent lifestyles in harmony with the Earth. To that end, we will stay true to Toshiba Group's slogan, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” and will strive to become the most excellent company in environmental management earning the trust of society. As we do so, I hope that we may enjoy your continued support and cooperation.