Toshiba Group has identified "Response to the circular economy" as one of its material issues and will connect the cycle of resource circulation and carbon recycling by working to transform itself into a cyber-physical system technology company, which is the Group’s goal, aiming to realize a resource circulating society as set out in Environmental Future Vision 2050.
Governance
Toshiba Group has established an environmental management structure and is promoting group-wide initiatives to respond to the circular economy. Items of the Environmental Action Plan and priority measures related to resource circulation are formulated and progress is checked at Toshiba Group Environmental Management Committee, and the content is reported to Sustainability Strategy Committee and the Board of Directors.
Strategy
We will promote activities aimed at improving resource productivity (i.e., decoupling resource consumption and environmental impacts from economic activities) throughout our business activities and product lifecycles.
Specifically, we will reduce environmental impacts and costs simultaneously by curbing the resources used in production processes and eliminating waste at the manufacturing stage in Japan and overseas. We will also increase the amount of resources saved through measures such as downsizing products, and increase the use of recycled plastics, including for packaging materials.In addition, we participate in Circular Partners partnership, which was established to promote collaboration between industry, government, and academia based on the Strategy for a Growth-Oriented, Resource-Autonomous Circular Economy formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan in March 2023. We are actively collaborating with relevant parties, including industrial associations, the government and other companies, and are promoting activities within the company aimed at building a circular economy business model, viewing the development of new markets and market expansion for circular economy-related businesses as an opportunity.
- Response to the Circular Economy at Our Sites
- Response to the Circular Economy in Products and Services
- Circular Partners (Link to an external site) (Japanese only)
Risk Management
In the linear economic system, which is based on mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal, a decrease in the rate of potential economic growth has become apparent due to the risk of resource depletion, the limitations of waste treatment, and increased environmental impacts caused by marine plastic debris and so on.
Toshiba Group views the increased management costs associated with stricter regulations on resource use and disposal as well as the increased cost of procuring raw materials due to resource constraints as risks. We deal with risks that could have significant impacts on management by clarifying management decision criteria, permissible risk limits, and corporate policy on business withdrawal in making management decisions for business execution to achieve Toshiba Group’s sustainable growth and increase corporate value. In addition, for each risk case, the Business Risk Review Committee conducts risk assessment, identifies the maximum risk, and establishes for monitoring. Matters of particularly high importance are deliberated at management meetings. The Business Risk Review Committee meeting is held several times monthly as matters aris
Metrics and Targets
As part of our Environmental Action Plan, we have established common metrics for each business, set annual targets, and track our progress. We also set individual targets or monitor environmental performance data to address resource circulation issues specific to each business.
Toshiba Group’s efforts to promote the circulation of resources and carbon
<Circulation of resources>
We develop initiatives to maximize resource value in every phase of product and service design, procurement, manufacturing, distribution, use, and collection. With the goal of effectively using resources throughout the lifecycle, we carry out environmentally conscious design that enables resource usage reduction, selection of materials with low environmental impacts, longer product lives, and recyclability maximization. During the manufacturing phase, we work to reduce environmental impacts by establishing highly efficient production processes. During the use phase, we work to expand circular business by establishing a product service system that utilizes digital technology and implementing it in society.
<Circulation of carbon (carbon recycling)>
To achieve a circular economy and carbon neutrality simultaneously, we are also working on practical use of "carbon recycling (using CO2 as a resource)" in which CO2, a greenhouse gas, is recycled for new use cases, such as synthetic fuel and chemical raw materials.
