Environmental Governance

Panasonic is operating environmental management systems between a corporate headquarter division which governs group-wide environmental management and business domain companies. Except for manufacturing companies newly established within the last three years, all our manufacturing sites have built their own environmental management systems and acquired ISO 14001 certification. At present, we are fostering the establishment of environmental management systems at our nonmanufacturing sites, in order to reinforce environmental sustainability management across the Group.

By the end of 1998, all of our manufacturing sites worldwide obtained ISO 14001 certification. Due to business integration, consolidation of business bases, and promotion of multi-site certification, the number of ISO-certified sites varies every year.

• * Including multi-site certification

Panasonic defines risks as “factors that might hinder the achievement of business goals.” Our Global and Group Risk Management Committee, which is a cross-divisional group-wide committee, regards stricter environmental regulations as one of the most serious risks for our group and takes measures to ensure compliance with such regulations, particularly those on chemical substances enforced in Europe. In the event that such a risk is identified at one of our business sites, a parental business domain company reports the fact to the Committees on specific issues, which then examines appropriate countermeasures. In the case of a serious risk, we hold the Emergency Countermeasures Meetings in order to minimize an impact of such risks and make a prompt response to resolve it.

In order to implement the PDCA cycle for environmental sustainability management, it is essential to collect a significant amount of environmental performance data on energy use, waste generation, and water use of each businee site in a prompt and accurate manner. To this end, Panasonic has developed and introduced an environmental performance system as a means of globally collecting and managing environmental data of all manufacturing sites.

In fiscal 2008, we started monthly collection of major environmental performance data from all our manufacturing sites (285 sites in fiscal 2009) around the world. This environmental performance system allows us to give timely feedback to each site regarding their progress and results of analysis on their problems, which in turn helps us further reduce environmental impact in a well-planned manner. Toward the achievement of the CO₂ reduction target, this data collection system plays a vital role in checking the monthly progress, identifying obstacles and promoting initiatives group-widely. With this system, we thoroughly accelerate our activities.