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Management of Chemicals for Products

Minimization of chemicals’ environmental impacts

Regulations on chemical management have become stricter than ever in recent years. In particular, EU REACH*1 regulations mandate collection and provision of information regarding the chemicals contained in products, thereby requiring companies to properly manage information on the chemicals contained in their products throughout their supply chains.

With a view to achieving the goal of minimizing risks involved in the use of chemicals in accordance with the precautionary principles adopted in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD*2) and other conferences, Toshiba Group has been promoting initiatives to eliminate the use of specified chemicals, to reduce the amount of chemicals contained in products and to use substitute materials so that customers can use Toshiba products with a sense of security.

Results of FY2011

The Fourth Environmental Action Plan, which started in FY2005, identified 15 rank-A chemical substance groups and made it a goal to eliminate the use of all these chemicals by FY2010. The percentage of products that do not contain these substances relative to the total sales reached 100% in FY2010 as specified in our action plan. In FY2011, we were able to continue without the use of these substances as planned.

Ratio of sales of products with 15 substance groups eliminated to net sales

chart of Ratio of sales of products with 15 substance groups eliminated to net sales

15 chemical substance groups subject to restriction (rank A)

  • (1) Bis (tributyl tin) oxide (TBTO)
  • (2) Tributyl tins (TBTs) and Triphenyl tins (TPTs)
  • (3) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • (4) Polychlorinated naphthalenes(PCNs with 3 or more chlorines)
  • (5) Short-chain chlorinated paraffins(C10-C13)
  • (6) Asbestos
  • (7) Azo colorants
  • (8) Ozone-depleting substances
  • (9) Radioactive substances
  • (10) Cadmium and its compounds
  • (11) Hexavalent chromium compounds
  • (12) Lead and its compounds
  • (13) Mercury and its compounds
  • (14) Polybrominated biphenyls(PBBs)
  • (15) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
  • * Detailed definitions and exempted uses are provided separately.
*1
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals): Regulations on registration, evaluation, authorization and restrictions related to chemicals
*2
WSSD: World Summit on Sustainable Development
*3
Regulations on PVC and BFRs in major countries: Many national governments regulate PVC when used as an additive to soften resins (generally known as a “plasticizer”).
Example 1: Phthalate esters contained in PVC (DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP) are designated as high priority hazardous substances in the EU REACH regulations (substances to be authorized or to be restricted (under examination)) and the revised RoHS directive.
Example 2: Use of organic tins contained in PVC (DOP and DBP) is restricted in the EU REACH regulations (substances to be controlled) Example 3: In addition to PBDEs and PBBs, which are designated as forbidden flame retardants in the RoHS directive, hazard assessments of various other BFRs are underway in countries around the world.

Future initiatives

Under our Fifth Environmental Action Plan, which starts in FY2012, we will step up our efforts to use substitute materials for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in response to even stricter environmental regulations on chemical management.*3

Product groups covered by the PVC/BFR substitution initative in the Fifth Environmental Action Plan
graph of Product groups covered by the PVC/BFR substitution initative in the Fifth Environmental Action Plan

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Provision of information on chemicals throughout the supply chain

Toshiba Group promotes eco procurement in countries around the world in cooperation with our suppliers. In particular, in order to properly comply with the RoHS directive*4 and REACH regulations, we share information throughout our supply chain. In addition to participating in JAMP*5 activities in collaboration with other companies in our industry, Toshiba Group has also developed Eco Socce-T,*6 a centralized system shared by all Toshiba Group companies, to facilitate obtaining and distributing information on chemicals contained in Toshiba products. Our information on parts and materials is stored in a database and used for various purposes, including certifying newly procured materials, making judgments as to whether or not to replace existing materials with substitutes, or developing environmentally conscious products.

*4
RoHS (Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances) directive: A directive which limits the use of specified hazardous substances in electrical and electronic devices
*5
JAMP: Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium
*6
Eco Socce-T: Eco, Substances of concern exchange & management system in the Toshiba Group

Creating a procurement database, including parts and raw materials
figure of Creating a procurement database, including parts and raw materialss

To promote business activities aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of hazardous chemicals and the risks involved in using them, it is essential to obtain the cooperation of suppliers, our business partners, for those activities for which the supply chain as a whole must be targeted. We request the understanding and cooperation of our suppliers in our eco procurement initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable society. We also request that they make environmental assessments and conduct research on and evaluations of the chemicals contained in the materials and parts they supply and report the results of independent assessments on their level of eco procurement (according to Toshiba’s standards) in accordance with ISO 14001.

Suppliers’ levels of eco procurement for FY2011

(%)

Rank S Rank A Rank B Lower than
Rank B
85.4 11.8 1.8 1.0

Note: Rank S (Priority), Rank A (Excellent), Rank B and Lower than Rank B (Improvement requested)

Green Procurement Guidelines

Please download a PDF file from the following link to read our Guidelines.

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Due to circumstances such as industry trends, details of our requests to suppliers may differ among Toshiba Group companies and are described in the Green Procurement Guidelines issued by the office in charge of procurement of Toshiba Group companies, Toshiba in-house companies, divisions, establishments, factories, etc. For the Guidelines of Toshiba group companies, please check the following link to read.

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Development of Non-destructive Analysis Techniques Using SPring-8

To ensure the reliability of eco procurement and proper management of substances forbidden from being used in products, Toshiba Group has developed group-wide management standards regarding specific substances that have a high risk of being contained in products and is striving to prevent forbidden substances from being mixed into our products by fluorescent X-ray tests and chemical analysis.

In particular, in the past there was no established method for accurately measuring the amount of hexavalent chromium contained in chromate films on metal surfaces, which made it difficult to ensure compliance with regulations. To overcome this difficulty, Toshiba newly developed a lithium hydroxide (LiOH) extraction method which greatly improves the efficiency of extracting hexavalent chromium compared to the conventional hot water extraction method. We also established a method of non-destructive XAFS analysis*8 using SPring-8,*7 a large synchrotron radiation facility.

We have confirmed the relationships between this method and the chemical analysis method using lithium hydroxide, thereby contributing to the development of various analysis methods to meet different needs.

*7
SPring-8 (Super Photon ring-8GeV): A large synchrotron radiation facility managed by the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute which generates synchrotron radiation featuring the world’s highest luminance for experiments, research and applications. It is jointly used by various organizations as a cutting-edge tool for analyzing substances.
*8
XAFS: X-ray Absorption Fine Structure

Measurement of hexavalent chromium through the use of synchrotron radiation
graph of Measurement of hexavalent chromium through the use of synchrotron radiation

Case Study 1: Initiative for reducing the amount of hazardous chemicals contained in parts and materials / Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.

Non-destructive inspection of baggage at airports via X-rays is one essential measure to protect against terrorism. Scintillators play a crucial role in devices that transform the X-rays that penetrate into or reflect off baggage into light to create images. Toshiba has developed a GOS (Gd2O2S) scintillator by using rareearth oxysulfide to replace conventional CWO (CdWO4) scintillators that contain cadmium, which is a hazardous substance. Toshiba’s GOS scintillator contains no hazardous substances and has a higher sensitivity than conventional products. In addition to baggage inspection at airports, it can also be used for checking for the presence of foreign matter in food or for internal inspections of whole cargo trucks. Its high sensitivity allows the intensity of X-ray radiation to be reduced.

Image of X-ray inspection device (for baggage)
X-ray inspection device (for baggage)

Image of Scintillator
Scintillator

Initiative for reducing the amount of chemicals used in elevators / Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation

Toshiba’s standard elevator, SPACEL-GR, is not only designed to achieve the industry’s highest level*1 of energy-saving performance by reducing standby electricity consumption, but also uses advanced technologies to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, such as the inclusion of mercury-free materials, the use of a new type of coolant and reductions in the use of lead.

*1
Internal data as of November 2011

Mercury-free

Use of LED lights for all ceiling lighting

Use of a new type of coolant

A new coolant (R-410A) that does negatively affect the ozone layer is used for the elevator cooler.

Reductions in the use of lead

To support the elevator, a wedge-and-rope suspension system is used instead of the conventional rope suspension system.
We have eliminated the use of lead for the processing of rope ends.

Photo of Elevator car
Elevator car

Chart of Elevator structure and effect items
Elevator structure and effect items


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Case Studies in FY2010

Case Study: Reducing chemicals in notebook PCs / Toshiba Digital Products & Services Company

R series are excellent in low energy consumption exceeding ENERGY STAR criteria by 40% to 50%. They are also leading PCs in minimizing chemical substances and are mercury-free and PVC-free.

photo of Rseries

Mercury-free PCs
Mercury is eliminated by using LED for LCD backlights.
PVC-free PCs
PVC is not used in the PC main body including internal cables, chassis and printed circuit boards.
Mercury-/cadmium-/lead-free batteries
Neither mercury, cadmium nor lead is used in the batteries. They fulfill and exceed the criteria of EU Battery Directive and thus labeling of hazardous chemical substance names is exempted.

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Case Studies in FY2008

Case Study: Reducing chemicals in notebook PCs / Toshiba Digital Products & Network Company

PVC/BFR-free: No PVC used for the main body of the PC, No BFR used for the main body of the PC (Plastic parts weighing 10g or more)

Mercury-free LCD

We eliminated the use of mercury by using an LED backlight crystal display, thereby producing a mercury-free PC body.

photo of Mercury-free LCD
Mercury-free LCD

Halogen/antimony-free* printed wiring board

We use a printed wiring board containing no halogen compounds (chlorinated or brominated compounds) or antimony compounds for the main substrate.

*
Standards of the Japan Electronics Packaging and Circuits Association

photo of Halogen/antimony-free* printed wiring board

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Case Studies in FY2007

Case Study: Notebook PC Lightweight and robust low-environmental-impact mobile computer offering long-time operation.

Factor 5.11 photo of dynabook SS RX1 (Introduced in June 2007)Advantage:Adoption of LED backlight LCD eliminates use of mercury. This PC offers not only cutting-edge mobile performance but also outstanding energy-saving performance.

Value factor 2.90Main points of value improvement. Enhanced performance: By flash memoly drive, High-speed processing and large-capacity data storage. Long-time operation by battery and easy-to-view screen. High reliability: Principal components protected from external shock and structural design offering protection against liquid infiltration. Fingerprint sensor and TPM security prevent unauthorized access to HDD.

Environmental Impact Reduction Factor 1.76Main points of environmental impact improvement. Mitigation of climate change: Low power consumption, thanks to the low-voltage unit and system power management. Optimization of resources: Resource saving by miniaturization of substrates and lightweight keyboard and display. Management of chemicals: Adoption of substrates free from halogen/antimony compounds and mercury-free LED backlight LCD.

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