Environmentally-Conscious Factories

Panasonic is endeavoring to minimize all the input and output of resources, placing an emphasis on prevention of global warming, reduction of total waste generation and reduction of the release and transfer of chemical substances. We believe that we can strengthen our management structure through these efforts and aim to make all our manufacturing sites Clean Factories (CFs).

Panasonic has introduced the CF Accreditation System to evaluate measures implemented by its factories and certify those that have earned certain scores as CFs. Specifically, the factories’ achievements are graded by numerical points in terms of the three mandatory performance targets of prevention of global warming, reduction of total waste generation and reduction of release and transfer of chemical substances, as well as in terms of a voluntary target of effective utilization of water.

We have been gradually expanding a scope of this system since we first introduced it in Japan in fiscal 2006, aiming to increase the global CF accreditation rate to at least 90% in fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2009, 246 factories were accredited as CFs, with the CF accreditation rate reaching 92%, far exceeding the target for the year (74%). Also, we globally accredit factories that have implemented top-class environmental activities in each country and have received the highest-level commendations from the national government in recognition of their outstanding environmental activities as Superior CFs. In fiscal 2009, we accredited 17 factories as Superior CFs.

• * See Definition of Key Reduction-Target Substances (368 substances)