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Life Cycle Approach
In developing environmentally conscious products, we work to reduce the environmental impacts of our products throughout their life cycles.
 

mission
We carry out design assessment in consideration of the product life cycle - from procurement through to disposal.
commitment 　　　　　　　
Checks are performed throughout product development, and only acceptable products are shipped.

commitment 1
Environmental Design Assessment
Major checkpoints at each stage of the life cycle
1. Procurement stage (selection of parts, materials)
  • Elimination/reduction of prohibited and restricted substances (Green Procurement)
  • Reduction of compound materials and parts that are difficult to disassemble
  • Minimization of use of natural resources
2. Manufacturing Stage
  • Elimination/reduction of prohibited and restricted substances (Green Manufacturing)
  • Reduction of packaging materials for parts
3. Distribution Stage
  • Reduction of packaging materials
  • Styrene-foam-free packaging
4. Usage Stage
  • Reduction of power consumption (development of energy saving products)
  • Reduction in volume and mass of products
5. End-of-life Stage
  • Design for easier disassembly
  • Provide information for recycling and disposal -- indicate raw materials used in products


commitment 2 factor T character
Assess "value and environmental aspects" of a product (Factor T)
Toshiba Group introduced Factor T, its unique eco-efficiency indicator for evaluating value and environmental aspects of a product, in fiscal 2003.
Eco-efficiency is calculated by dividing the "value" of a product by its "environmental impact". The smaller the environmental impact and the higher the value of the product, the greater its eco-efficiency. The value of a product is calculated based on its functions and performance, taking the voice of customer into consideration. The environmental impact of a product is calculated with consideration for environmental impacts throughout its life cycle (from procurement of materials, manufacturing and distribution, through to use and end-of-life). Environmental impacts are calculated with LIME (Life-cycle Impact Assessment Method based on Endpoint Modeling), developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology through an LCA project run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.
The factor is calculated by dividing the eco-efficiency of a product subject to assessment by the eco-efficiency of the benchmark product. The higher the eco-efficiency of the product, the larger the factor becomes. We refer to creation of environmentally conscious products (ECPs) through calculation of factors as "Factor T."
written about Factor T


commitment 3
Guidelines for environmentally conscious design of Toshiba PCs

Our comprehensive management of chemical substances is designed to ensure customers can use Toshiba notebook PCs with confidence and to prevent release of environmentally harmful substances. In "Toshiba Notebook PC Environmentally Conscious Design Guidelines", we prohibit the use of not only the six substances specified by the RoHS Directive of the European Union (EU), including lead, mercury and cadmium, but also many other substances known to impact the environment.
Every Toshiba notebook PC is developed in accordance with the above guideline, and we will also continue working to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs).


Throughout the stages of the product life cycle, we currently follow the "Toshiba Notebook PC Environmentally Conscious Design Guidelines".

Procurement stage (selection of parts, materials)
Restriction of hazardous substances
  (1) Compatible with the RoHS Directive (restriction of the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)).
Intentional use of those six substances is prohibited (except as exempted in the RoHS Directive).
  (2) Prohibit the use of the following seven substances in addition to those in (1) (acquire "Declaration Sheets" from parts suppliers).
  Bis(tributyltin)oxide (TBTO), polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalene (Cl ? 3), short chain chlorinated paraffins (C10-13), asbestos, azo pigments and dyes (forming specific amines on those parts that come into continuous contact with the human body), ozone depleting substances (excludes HCFC).
  Prohibit the use of the following fifteen substances in addition to (1) & (2) (requirement for suppliers as part of procurement specifications).
  Aldrin, endrin, yellow phosphorus, chlordanes, N,N'-ditolyl-p-phenylenediamin, N-tolyl-N'-xyly l-p-phenylenediamine or N,N'-dixylyl-p-phenylene diamine, dioxins, DDT, dieldrin, toxaphene, 2,4,6-Tri-t-Butylphenol, 4-Nitrobiphenyl and its salt, bis(chloromethyl)ether, hexachlorobenzene, benzene, mirex.
  Prohibition of hazardous substances in batteries
  Compatible with EU battery directive.
No use of batteries containing mercury.
No use of Ni-Cd batteries.
  Restriction of PVC
  No use of PVC in packaging.
Identify PVC use throughout the PC and make every effort to reduce PVC.
  Restriction of brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
  No use of PBB or PBDE.
No use of Deca-BDE, even though it is exempted from restriction by the RoHS Directive.

Use of recycled materials for products
  At least one part that uses recycled plastics is adopted.

Distribution stage
Restriction of hazardous substances
  Compatible with EU Packaging Directive.

  No use of PVC in packaging.

Use of recycled materials for packaging
  Styrene foam is not used in shock-absorbing packaging.

Usage stage
Energy saving
  Some energy-saving functions, such as low-power mode, are integrated.

End-of-life stage
Use of recyclable plastics
  The total amount of PP, PS, PE, PC and ABS should be 80% or more of all plastic.
(PP: Polypropylene, PS: Polystyrene, PE: Polyethylene, PC: Polycarbonate, ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Design for recycling
  Every plastic unit weighing 25g or more indicates material information.

  Design for easy disassembly
  PC can be disassembled into units with just screwdrivers.



Throughout the stages of the life cycle
Life cycle assessment
  CO2 emissions during the PC life cycle have been ascertained by LCA evaluation, and evaluation based on environmental efficiency has been carried out. (evaluation can be omitted if there is little change from current products)

  "Toshiba PC Environmentally Conscious Design Assessment" is carried out for every PC. (Efforts to reduce environmental impacts are evaluated against the check sheet)

Design for long-term use
  Unit devices like hard disc drives can be upgraded, to assure long-term use.




commitment 4
Basic policy for reduction of hazardous substances

Basic policy for reduction of hazardous substances
Toshiba PC has a history of reducing and / or eliminating hazardous substances before these actions are required by law.
For example, We:

- Adopted lead-free soldering in 2001

- Instituted lead-free soldering for all printed circuit boards manufactured in Toshiba factories in 2003

- Launched its first RoHS compatible notebook PC in September 2005

- Was an early adopter of the PC magnesium case. Employing the magnesium case contributes to the reduction of plastic and plastic additives.

Toshiba PC's basic policy regarding the reduction and / or elimination of hazardous substances is based on the "precautionary principle" and the "substitution principle".

(1) We will replace hazardous substances with alternatives, whether those hazardous substances are restricted by the law or not. The alternatives must have a reduced impact on the environment, must be available for use and must not negatively impact product function, performance or quality.

(2) If alternatives that have a diminished environmental impact are available and these alternatives do not negatively affect product function, performance or quality, We will endeavor to replace the hazardous substances with alternatives, although the hazardous property has not yet been proved.

Toshiba PC has already put the precautionary principle and substitution principle into practice. For example, We:

- Prohibits the use of PBB and PBDE even though the density is less than what the RoHS Directive requires (0.1wt%).

- Prohibits any use of the hexavalent chromium, although the RoHS Directive exempts some applications of hexavalent chromium until July 1, 2007.

- Prohibits use of PVC for packaging materials and halogen compounds in the plastic used for packaging materials.

- Applies the precautionary principle and the substitution principle to all models in all regions where our products are sold.

- Prohibits the use of Deca-BDE, although it is exempted by the RoHS Directive.



commitment 5
Plan for reduction of PVC and BFRs
Based on the following policy, we plan to eliminate PVC and BFRs from our notebook PCs.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Toshiba prohibits the use of PVC in packing materials and has eliminated PVC from the external cases of some Toshiba brand notebook PCs.

July 2007
Toshiba brand notebook PCs developed after July, 2007 will not contain PVC in external cases and in plastic parts weighing 25g or more (excluding cables).

2009
Toshiba will use PVC alternatives for all remaining uses of PVC in notebook PCs by 2009, as alternatives are identified that have a lessened impact on the environment and health while not compromising product function, performance or quality. Additionally, any PVC alternative should be a technically reasonable substitute.

PVC free AC cable (From April, 2009) 
PVC free AC cables are used for dynabook SS RX2 (Japanese model of Portege R600) and dynabook NX (Japanese model of Portege A600).

AC cable
　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
Toshiba prohibits the use of PBB (Polybrominated biphenyls) and PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in all Toshiba brand notebooks PCs, including Deca-BDE. Toshiba uses BFR-free printed wiring boards for some Toshiba brand notebook PCs.

July 2007
Toshiba brand notebook PCs developed after July, 2007 will not contain BFRs in external cases and in plastic molding parts weighing 25g or more (excluding AC adapters).

2009
Toshiba will use BFR alternatives for all remaining uses of BFRs in notebook PCs by 2009, as alternatives are identified that have a lessened impact on the environment and health while not compromising product function, performance or quality. Additionally, any BFR alternative should be a technically reasonable substitute.

PVC/BFR/Halogen/Antimony-free design
   - Notebook PC, Portege R600   
The Portage R600 has a PVC-free design, excluding the AC adapter. The AC cable is PVC-free for the Japan version only.
The Portage R600 also does not contain any BFRs in its external case or in any plastic molded parts weighing 25g or more (excluding the AC adapter).
The main PWB (Printed Wiring Board) for the Portege R600 is halogen and antimony-free.
PORTEGE R500 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 AC cable
Portege R600 PVC-free AC cable


commitment 6

Plan for reduction of phthalates, beryllium and antimony
2009
Toshiba will use PVC alternatives that do not contain phthalates in notebook PCs by 2009, as alternatives are identified that have a lessened impact on the environment and health while not compromising product function, performance or quality.

2012
Toshiba will use phthalates alternatives for all remaining use of phthalates, and will use beryllium and/or antimony alternatives for beryllium and/or antimony in notebook PCs by 2012, as alternatives are identified that have a lessened impact on the environment and health while not compromising product function, performance or quality.

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