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 achieve generation control, which is the top priority of the Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, as a KPI for the environmental aspects, we have set a total waste volume per unit production*1 for high-efficiency manufacturing and are working to minimize input materials.
*1 The sum of the volume of waste and the volume of objects with value
Promotion of Generation Control
In production processes, we aim to reduce waste generation by optimizing the use of materials through measures such as reducing the amounts of resources used and minimizing work losses.
Even in non-production processes, we work to reduce the amount of waste generated by promoting the 3R's (reuse, reduce, and recycle) for packaging materials and logistics pallets.
Promotion of Reuse
We are expanding our efforts to collect, clean and reuse the waste generated by our manufacturing processes. In addition to reducing the volume of waste generated, this also contributes to employee safety by helping to reduce the total volume of hazardous waste discharged.
In addition, the total volume of hazardous waste*2 is 4,200 tons in FY2023, the recycling rate*3 is 94%, and the volume discharged and moved*4 is 2,170 kg.
*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.
*4 The figure is determined based on the volume discharged and moved of the substances that are managed by Toshiba Corporation among all the substances defined in the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCA).
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 FY2022, Toshiba Group recycled 92,000 tons of resources, and 96% of the total volume of waste generated was reused effectively as various resources. The recycled resources consisted mainly of scrap metal, waste paper, and wood chips, and 94% of them were used effectively for material recycling (recycled into materials for products), and the remaining 6% 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 (FY2023)
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.