Global Warming Prevention

Panasonic produces products worldwide that are environmentally-conscious in three respects: prevention of global warming, effective utilization of resources and management of chemical substances. Among these environmental features, we are accelerating the development of products with industry-leading energy-efficiency performance to contribute to the spread of energy-saving products, which leads to CO₂ emissions reduction from household sector.

In fiscal 2009, we developed and marketed 233 models, far exceeding a target of 150. Our initiatives are accelerating even outside Japan, and we have received recognition for such energy-efficiency products, including regional label certifications and awards. While we develop fewer products in fiscal 2010 in the midst of the recession, we will continue to work on improving the energy efficiency performance and introducing more than 200 industry-leading products in energy efficiency.

Panasonic is participating in Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP), a voluntary partnership of seven major CO₂-emitting nations. Our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of electrical products by advocating the use of energy-efficient products worldwide. In the Market Transformation Project, Japan is taking a lead and helping individual countries establish energy efficiency standards, through initiatives like the Top Runner Program. The project also includes dissemination of information to each country about successful measures to improve their energy standards. Panasonic takes part in many international symposiums to explain the importance of energy-efficient electrical products as a means of preventing global warming. This participation gives other countries information and a deeper understanding of Japan's environmental programs and environmental management at Panasonic.

Panasonic is reducing CO₂ emissions in all of its business activities. In particular, aiming to reduce emissions from its production activities in an absolute term, we have set a goal of reducing our global CO₂ emissions by 300,000 tons during the current three-year mid-term management plan. In fiscal 2009, we have reduced 510,000 tons of CO₂ emissions and achieved the target one year ahead of the plan. This achievement was largely realized by group-wide CO₂ reduction initiatives that have taken firm root while part of it was derived from a decrease in production. In fiscal 2010, we are targeting to reduce 480,000 tons of CO₂ emissions compared to fiscal 2007 while increasing production, and promote the improvement of energy-saving manufacturing structure preparing for market recovery.

Panasonic established the Corporate CO₂ Emission Reduction Promoting Committee in April 2008, which is chaired by the director for environmental affairs and made up of executives in charge of manufacturing at business domain companies. The committee implements monitoring monthly progress, studying problems and overseeing various reduction projects. Similar committees, which are also formulated at business domain companies facilitate the rapid provision of information to Panasonic factories worldwide and the effective implementation of CO₂ reduction measures. The Corporate CO₂ Emission Reduction Promoting Committee has an Energy Conservation Technical Support Team made up of representatives of departments that have energy conservation technologies. This team helps tackle issues that are common to all Panasonic factories.

It is vital to visualize an amount of power consumption of each production equipment and CO₂ reduction effect of countermeasures in order to steadily make progress in CO₂ reduction. To make them numerically visible, Panasonic has started the uniquely-named METAGEJI (Meter and Gauge) initiative on a group-wide basis, in which we visualize an amount of energy use and implement reduction measures discovered through visualization.

In fiscal 2009, Panasonic accelerate the introduction of measuring equipment to all manufacturing sites and established energy management systems. In addition, we prepared a METAGEJI Utilization Manual based on the accomplishments at a model factory. We plan to continue using this initiative to identify wasted energy and strive CO₂ reduction activities.

Panasonic uses an Energy Conservation Diagnosis performed by internal energy-efficiency specialists in order to select the most effective measures to cut energy use at factories. Business domain companies solve problems through the joint efforts of factory managers and engineers who have an extensive knowledge of each product's manufacturing processes. Furthermore, we formulate task forces made up primarily of members of the Energy Conservation Technical Support Team, which performs diagnoses that uncover themes that the entire company can apply. By using this diagnosis system, we came up with 350 energy-saving ideas that would lower CO₂ emissions by 28,000 tons at 15 factories in fiscal 2009.

To achieve the CO₂ reduction targets, we are aggressively pursuing energy-conservation themes that were beyond the reach of conventional methodology due to technological issues or quality assurance problems. The internal research divisions, the Corporate Manufacturing Innovation Division, Production Engineering Laboratory, are taking the lead in developing energy-conservation technologies by using simulations and other advanced techniques. They help business domain companies upgrade their manufacturing technologies. We have significantly reduced energy consumption at semiconductor plant clean rooms and dry air supply systems for rechargeable batteries, both of which require large amounts of power. Another initiative of the research divisions is the Energy-efficient Manufacturing Technology Seminar which is being promoted across the group. Each factory brings issues to the seminar and various activities are recommended to tackle them, including training of engineers.