Toshiba Group promotes the simultaneous reduction of environmental impacts and costs by increasing the efficiency of its production processes. To optimize quality (Q), cost (C), quantity, and delivery or due dates (D) in all aspects of production management—including production planning, production control, work management, equipment management, and materials management—we aim to reduce environmental impacts as a ripple effect by conducting activities from the perspective of the four elements of management, namely people, goods, money, and information.
To promote high-efficiency manufacturing, and in line with the top priority of the Basic Act for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, generation control, we have set a target in the Environmental Action Plan to improve the total volume of waste generated*1 per unit, thereby working to minimize input materials.
- All waste generated at our business and production sites (including the volume of waste sold for value and the recycled waste)
Promotion of Generation Control
In production processes, we aim to reduce waste generation by promoting the 3Rs (reuse, reduce, and recycle) for packaging materials and logistics pallets, as well as by optimizing the use of materials through measures such as reducing the amounts of resources used and minimizing work losses.
In non-production processes as well, we strive to minimize paper usage by promoting digitalization.
Promotion of Reuse
We are expanding our efforts to collect, clean and reuse the waste generated by our production processes. In addition to reducing the volume of waste generated, this also helps curb the total volume of hazardous waste discharged and contributes to ensuring employee safety.
The total volume of hazardous waste*2 is 4,100 tons in FY2024, and the recycling rate*3 is 88%.
*2 The total volume of hazardous waste indicates the quantity of specially controlled industrial waste specified by the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act of Japan (the “Waste Management Act”).
*3 The volume recycled refers to the quantity reused or recycled of the specially controlled industrial waste specified by the Waste Management Act.
Promotion of Recycling and Heat Recovery
We are working to recycle waste that contains rare metals generated in production processes by sorting such waste internally and extracting the rare metals in cooperation with companies in the recycling industry.
Even in non-production processes, we aim to recycle by thoroughly sorting waste.
In FY2024, Toshiba Group recycled 74,000 tons of resources, and 94% of the total volume of waste generated was reused effectively as various resources. The recycled resources consisted mainly of scrap metal, sludge, and wood chips, and 91% of them were used effectively for material recycling (recycled into materials for products), and the remaining 9% for thermal recycling (heat recovery). In the future, Toshiba Group will continue to increase the total volume of resources recycled and at the same time will strive to raise the quality of recycling chiefly by increasing the percentage of resources recycled into materials.
Breakdown of the volume recycled (FY2024)
Promotion of Appropriate Disposal
We have been working to achieve zero emissions by requiring intermediate treatment companies to track the volume of waste that they send to landfills, thereby tracking waste through to the final stage of disposal. By requiring regular on-site inspections and reporting of treatment results, we have been able to achieve zero emissions and ensure appropriate, rigorous waste treatment by our waste treatment contractors.