Chemical Substance Management at Factories

In fiscal 2007, 368 substances were selected as Key Reduction-target Substances that have a particular impact on the environment (substances whose amounts released/transferred are significant, and those that cause air pollution and global warming). We set new targets to reduce their release/transfer on a global basis by 10% below 2006 levels by fiscal 2011. Substances other than Key Reduction-Target Substances will be managed in the conventional manner, based on the definitions in the Rank Guidelines. In fiscal 2008, we reduced the use of such substances through ongoing development of new production technologies and a review of manufacturing processes, and these measures resulted in a reduction in the amounts released/transferred. To reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) whose amounts released / transferred are particularly large among the Key Reduction-Target Substances, we introduced equipment for detoxifying and recovering VOCs, reorganized and consolidated manufacturing sites, replaced solventbased materials with water-based materials, and switched solvent coating to powder coating. Owing to these efforts, the amount released/transferred in fiscal 2008 decreased by 16% from fiscal 2006 levels. To achieve our medium-term plan aiming to reduce environmental impact, each site is implementing its own specific Three-Year Chemical Substances Reduction Plan.

Definition of Key Reduction-target Substances (368 substances)
(1) Ten groups of substances recording the highest levels of release / transfer in the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register survey (Japan, fiscal 2003)Ten groups of substances recording the highest levels of release/transfer in the chemical substance survey (fiscal 2005) by Panasonic and its group subsidiaries
(2) Twenty VOCs recording the highest levels of release in the survey by the electrical and electronics industry
(3) Five groups of substances specified by the Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming

• * The figures are different from those in the previous report, because problems when collecting data have been addressed and thus the accuracy of the figures in and after the base fiscal year has been improved.

details

• *1 ‘Substances’ include those listed in the Panasonic Group Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines (Version 3.1) covering all substances listed in the Japanese PRTR Law.
• *2 ‘Transferred’ includes the amount of substances transferred as waste, as well as wastewater discharges into the sewage system. And includes free (under the Waste Management Law) and any obligatory return recycling under contract. (Transferred amounts differ from those reported under the PRTR Law.)
• *3 ‘Removed’ refers to the amount of substances converted into other substances through neutralization, decomposition, or other chemical treatment.
• *4 ‘Recycled’ includes paid recycling, as well as free and any obligatory return recycling under contract.
• *5 ‘Shipped as products’ refers to the amount of substances that have been changed to other substances as a result of chemical reactions, and those that are contained in or accompanying products shipped out of factories.