Management of the Factory Environment

Legal compliance is an essential requirement for all our activities. With this in mind, Panasonic is promoting strict compliance with relevant environmental regulations at our plants through regular measurement of gas emissions, water discharge, noise, odor levels, etc. In fiscal 2008, there were seven measurements in Japan, and two overseas that exceeded the standards stipulated in laws, ordinances, and agreements. In addition, individual factories have set voluntary standards that are even more stringent than the legally-required levels. If we ever fail to meet legal criteria, we immediately report it to the relevant authorities and take corrective and preventive measures.

• * Aggregated data of business sites in countries that have regulations in place

• * Aggregated data of business sites in countries that have regulations in place

In China, water and air pollution has become a serious problem and various regulations have been reinforced to address this. In response, Panasonic conducted voluntary environmental audits at all of its 60 manufacturing sites in China in August 2007 to help reduce pollution.

In November, an environmental compliance administrators conference was held, and we reaffirmed comprehensive implementation of environmental conservation measures. A two-day seminar was also held to strengthen environmental risk management. Explanations were provided to about 80 environmental officers from the 60 sites in China on how to deal with pollution and other environmental accidents promptly and to prevent their recurrence, by suggesting specific measures and discussing past experiences in environmental management in relation to pollution prevention.

Through these activities, Panasonic aims to encourage its employees to understand the importance of environmental risk management and raise their environmental awareness, thereby reducing such risks and preventing accidents and pollution.

Environmental risk management seminar in China