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Environmental Product Design
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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 nine substances in addition to those in (1) (acquire "Declaration Sheets" from parts suppliers).
  Bis(tributyltin)oxide (TBTO), Polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs) & Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs), Polychlorinated naphthalene (with 3 or more chlorine atoms), 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. Tributyltins (TBTs) & Tripheniltins (TPTs), Radioactive Substances.
  Prohibit the use of the following twenty 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, 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol (synonyms: Kelthane, Dicofol), Hexachlorobutadiene (synonyms: Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene, Hexachlorobuta-1,3-diene), 2-benzotriazol-2-yl-4,6-ditert-butyl-phenol, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate(PFOS) and its salts, Dimethylfumarate(DMF).
  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

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
  Use of recycled materials for 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
World eco labels compliant
All Toshiba note PCs are ranked as EPEAT GOLD (US models)

Toshiba registers all note PCs shipped to US market to EPEAT, which is the whole labeling program on environment of products managed by Green Electronics Council. All Toshiba note PCs are ranked as GOLD since 2009 (as of the end of August 2010), except particular products such as models without OS. This shows how Toshiba note PCs are environmentally-conscious.
Toshiba note PCs also comply with eco labels of other regions.
EPEAT:
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool) is a eco labeling program organized by US Green Electronics Council. EPEAT criteria consist of many items of wide rang of product life cycle from environmental design to recycling. Items to be evaluated are divided into required criteria and optional criteria . The product which complies with all required criteria is ranked as GOLD , SILVER or BRONZE according to the number of optional criteria that the product complies with .


Commitment 5
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 6
Handling for reduction of PVC, BFRs, Phthalates, Beryllium and Antimony

Toshiba tackles positively toward elimination and substitution of PVC, BFRs, Phthalates, Beryllium and Antimony.

Toshiba prohibits the use of PVC in packaging materials and PBB (Polybrominated biphenyls) and PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in all Toshiba brand notebook PCs including Deca-BDE. Toshiba uses BFR free printing wiring boards for some Toshiba brand notebook PCs.
Toshiba brand notebook PCs developed after July, 2007 will not contain PVC and BFRs in external cases in plastic parts weighing 25g or more.
(PVC : excluding cables, BFR : excluding AC adapters)
- Additionally, Toshiba is releasing PVC/BFR free model in those world wide models such as following models
   continuously as PVC/BFR free model in following condition.
        PVC : free for main body
        BFR : free for case and all plastic parts weighing 10g or more
 
Toshiba released 100% PVC/BFR free model, Tecra A11-EV1 in USA market in Mar.,2011.


Commitment 7
Mercury free PC (use of LED backlight)
Toshiba note PC adopts LED backlight method for the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) in almost all cases. The LED backlight method uses the LED, which is one of semiconductor devices, as a light source for LCD in place of the FL tube, which is one type of fluorescence lamps and is used normally as the backlight source in former days. Replacing the FL tube with the LED, we get the mercury free PC because the LED does not contain mercury, which FL tube contains.
Mercury free PC
Mercury free PC


Commitment 8
Arsenic free LCD glass panel
Arsenic compound is widely used in the manufacturing process of a glass panel of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) in order to prevent forming of babbles in it. Arsenic compound often remains in such glass panel.
Latest technology comes to give us the LCD glass panel which does not contain arsenic compound. Toshiba already has started to use arsenic free LCD glass panel.
Arsenic free LCD glass
Arsenic free LCD glass panel for Portege R700.

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