Response to environmental risk compliance
We, Toshiba Group, pursue the highest standard of compliance management in environmental management operations that relate to our business activities, products, and services.
Corporate staff divisions draft and formulate Group-wide policies and regulations related to environmental compliance management. In accordance with such policies and regulations, each Group company sets its compliance management items to be observed by its business divisions and sites, and executes its business.
In addition, corporate staff divisions conduct in-house environmental audits to meticulously check whether environmental policies are in place and how relevant laws and regulations are managed at key Group companies, business divisions, and sites on a regular basis. This helps us identify potential environmental risks and implement measures to prevent environmental incidents and violations of laws.
If a major environmental risk is identified, the Risk Compliance Committee, chaired by the executive officer in charge of the Legal Division, discusses preventive measures to be taken. If any environmental risk should materialize, all the concerned parties, including environmental promotion managers and related persons of relevant Group companies and sites, will work together under the direction of the executive in charge of environment to take preventive measures, check relevant business and production sites as well as consider recurrence prevention measures.
To manage environmental risks and ensure compliance, we make the most of opportunities such as Company-wide environmental education, environmental auditor certification training, and Toshiba Group Environmental Management Committee meeting to share the latest trends in laws and regulations, incidents occurred within the Group, and audit results for each Group company, business division, and site. This has contributed to raising the awareness of compliance.
Risk Management and Compliance in Business Activities
Response to compliance
Management of Equipment Containing PCBs and Environmental Liabilities
Enforcement of the Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes obliges business operators storing PCB waste to dispose of PCB wastes properly by March 2027. As of March 31, 2024 and 2025, Toshiba Group recorded environmental liabilities as PCB detoxification outsourcing expenses. These expenses were incurred in relation to the disposal of products containing PCBs that were stored and managed at business and production sites nationwide and their facilities.
Since 1972, when the manufacture of products using PCBs was discontinued in Japan, Toshiba Group has kept PCB-containing equipment under strict surveillance, controlled it, and reported its storage to the relevant authorities in accordance with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act and the Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes in Japan. In addition to meeting the prescribed storage standards, the Group makes doubly sure through the installation of dikes and double containers and other measures that they are stored appropriately.
Disposal policies
| PCB waste (Pollution-confirmed materials for storage) | PCB devices in use | |
|---|---|---|
| Low density | Proceed with disposal at government-certified facilities. | Transformers: Analyze oil during maintenance. Formulate plans to upgrade or dispose of devices containing PCB. Condensers: Formulate plans to gradually upgrade fully sealed devices while taking care not to impair business activities. Formulate plans to dispose of devices containing PCB. |
| PCB waste (Pollution-confirmed materials for storage) | PCB devices in use | |
|---|---|---|
| Low density | Proceed with disposal at government-certified facilities. | Transformers: Analyze oil during maintenance. Formulate plans to upgrade or dispose of devices containing PCB. Condensers: Formulate plans to gradually upgrade fully sealed devices while taking care not to impair business activities. Formulate plans to dispose of devices containing PCB. |
Management of Ozone-depleting Substances
Toshiba Group possesses specified chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which deplete the ozone layer, as coolant for air conditioners installed in sites; we appropriately dispose of such CFCs in compliance with the law. In FY2024, the amount of specified CFCs we held was 118 tons. Our CFC leaks stipulated in the Fluorocarbons Emissions Control Act were 801 t-CO2 in FY2024.
Purification of Contamination / Prevention of Contamination and Risk Reduction
Soil and Groundwater Purification
Toshiba Group studies the situation of soil and groundwater contamination at production sites and implements purification measures. We also implement safety measures for environmental equipment in order to prevent contamination and to reduce the risks posed by chemical substances. At sites where contamination is found in a simultaneous study, we monitor the contamination level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and collect and remove VOCs in groundwater, primarily by the water pumping method. The water pumping method is primarily focused on high-concentration areas. However, as purification progresses and concentrations decrease, measures such as intensifying pumping in areas that become relatively high-concentration are being implemented.
In FY2024, we collected 120kg of VOCs, an increase of 20% from the previous year, which can be attributed to the resumption of the permeable purification wall purification system (activated carbon) at Toshiba Corporation Komukai Complex, which had been temporarily suspended due to the construction of a new building, and the resumption of purification by pumping at Kitashiba Electric Co., Ltd., which had been suspended due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Management of Chemical Substance Discharges and Emissions
Toshiba Group manages chemical substances by ranking. In addition, it has independently set discharge/emission limits of chemical substances that are stricter than legal requirements in order to manage discharges/emissions into the water/air. Each site observes these limits.
Compliance with Structural Design Guidelines
Toshiba Group has established its own “Structural Design Guidelines,” with the objective of preventing the contamination of soil, groundwater, etc., as well as reducing associated risks. These Guidelines require the installation of containment berms, drip pans, and similar measures at environmental facilities, such as wastewater treatment plants and chemical storage facilities, in order to prevent the infiltration of chemicals or waste liquids into the ground or their discharge into water bodies. Compliance at each facility is regularly verified, and continuous improvement is pursued.
Implementation of Preliminary Environmental Assessments
Toshiba Group identifies potential environmental impacts from new business locations, relocations, divestitures, withdrawals, capital investments, and the use of new raw materials or chemicals. We assess these impacts in advance by confirming compliance with laws, regulations, and ordinances, and evaluating potential environmental effects from climate change and ecosystem perspectives. This approach enables us to prevent contamination and mitigate risks.
Risk Management and Compliance in Products and Services
We, Toshiba Group, are pursuing the highest standard of compliance with environmental regulations and requirements that relate to our products and services. To this end, we implement control over the entire process, from development and design through to shipment, and ask our business partners for their cooperation. For chemical substances in particular, we gather and assess the latest trends in policies and regulations around the world and incorporate the information into Toshiba Group's chemical substance management.
Violations of Laws and Regulations
In FY2024, two violations of laws and regulations were identified. The main details are as follows. For each case, a root cause analysis was conducted and measures to prevent recurrence were implemented.
＜Main Violations＞
・Discovery of equipment containing high-density PCBs
・Implementation of construction work outside the notification scope under the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act