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Sustainable Development Initiatives Towards a greener future Toshiba’s eco-formula looks ahead to 2050 Toshiba Corporation recently won two top prizes in recognition of its environmental policies. IFA International asked Kiyoshi Sanehira, General Manager of the company’s Environment Planning Group, what makes Toshiba different from other manufacturers when it comes to concern for the environment. In Japan there are two awards for environmental reports, one from the Ministry of the Environment and one given by the publishing house Toyokesa Shinto — and the latest report by Toshiba has won both. In the case of the Ministry, we received the Ministers’ Award, and from Toyokesa Shinto we won the Grand Prix. So it’s a bit like winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games and at the World Championships. Toshiba has a long-term plan called Environmental Vision 2050, plus we have a project called Factor 10 which sets out our ambition to improve our environmental efficiency by a factor of 10 based on where the company was in the year 2000. We are currently at 1.9 and by 2012 we expect to be at around 2.3. The formula that we use was invented by Professor Kaya of Tokyo University. So is this formula is generally recognised by other companies in the industry? I really don’t know if there is a unanimous acceptance of the formula. It is known as the Kaya Identity Formula and it deals with the relationship between human activities and CO 2 emissions, and it is the basis of all Toshiba’s environmental policies. We have also adapted the Kaya Identity so that it works specifically for Toshiba. Looking at the World’s per capita GDP, it will be 3.4 times higher in 2050 compared with 2000 and looking at the total population, that will be 1.5 times higher than in 2000, representing an increase from six billion to nine billion people. So consequently it is generally agreed that CO 2 emissions have to be cut by half. We manufacture two distinct categories of product; first the industrial equipment which produces energy, and then there are the many products that we make for the home environment, and we are determined to make both categories much more green. How are these products being made more efficient? Are you using alternative energies for example? The group of products that can contribute to better efficiency on the energymanufacturing side include nuclear power which is a low carbon source. The other is the CCS/CO 2 storage. Does Toshiba manufacture solar panels? IFA International editor in chief, Richard Barnes interviewing Kiyoshi Sanehira Kiyoshi Sanehira, Toshiba Corporation Corporate Environment Management Div. Environment Planning Group General Manager No unfortunately we don’t, so as we develop our alternative power grid we will have to buy them, but what we have in place is the technology of transmission and distribution of power so that’s where our strategy lies. If Toshiba has the capacity, why doesn’t the company make solar panels? In fact we used to make them but we lost competitiveness. Toshiba could make anything and everything but I think it’s important to concentrate on certain areas and not to try and do everything. Everybody talks about eco-products. But what is an eco-product? Our interpretation of eco-products is products that are environmentally conscientious. But what does that mean? Our definition is as follows; one important factor is the energy conservation aspect, then there is the recyclability of the resources used to make the object. Yet another aspect is the elimination, or the possible elimination of hazardous materials like PCBs which we are gradually eliminating from our products. We also follow the ecological rules that originated in Europe. Many companies are now very aware of the value of green practices including competitors like Philips and Sharp. What will make the difference for Toshiba in the competition to be more ecologically responsible? We have a very long tradition of manufacturing. We started making electric bulbs before anyone in Japan 120 years ago, and we have a huge accumulation of knowhow and experience that we can always tap into, and so we feel that we always have the edge over our competitors in what we do. www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Wednesday, 8 th September 2010 37
