Management of Chemical Substances at Factories

Last Update: Aug 5, 2011

Overview
Case

Initiatives to minimize environmental impact

As represented by the enforcement of the REACH regulation^* in the European Union, the world is moving toward the goals agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in 2002, which is to produce and use all chemical substances in a manner that minimizes their impact on human health and the environment by 2020. In support of the precautionary approach proposed in the Rio Declaration made at the Earth Summit in 1992, Panasonic has been manufacturing products in line with its basic policy of minimizing the use of chemical substances that might adversely affect human health and the environment throughout their life cycles. As specific initiatives, we aim to minimize the environmental impact of our products by (1) identifying hazardous substances contained in our products, (2) evaluating these substances on their environmental impact, and (3) voluntarily reducing or discontinuing their use in case of any environmental risks.

* Regulations on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemical substances.

Process to minimize environmental impact

Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines

Panasonic published the Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines in 1999, which lists chemical substances that should be discontinued, reduced, and properly managed. Both Panasonic Group companies and suppliers are asked to comply with the guidelines.

In fiscal 2010, we expanded the scope of hazard assessment to include various hazards to human health and the environment. We have since been endeavoring to identify chemical substances used in the components and materials of our products and strictly manage the use of prohibited substances to ensure that these substances will not be used or contained in our products except in some special cases. Specifically, for managed substances contained in our products, we will conduct environmental impact assessments based on their usage and use amount, and for substances used at our factories. We will further reduce the release of chemicals with the consideration to their impact on human health and the environment.

Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines (for products and factories)

For products			For factories
Rank		Definition	Rank	Definition
Prohibit	Level1	Substances whose use in products is prohibited by laws and regulations Substances whose use in products will be prohibited by laws and regulations within one year Substances whose use in products is prohibited within Panasonic	Prohibit	Use of the following substances should be immediately discontinued: Carcinogens for humans Ozone depleting substances (excluding HCFCs) Substances whose use is prohibited by Panasonic Chemical substances designated as Class I Specified Chemical Substances by the Japanese Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. Substances whose manufacture is prohibited by the Japanese Industrial Safety and Health Act Substances whose manufacture and use are prohibited by international treaties
Prohibit	Level2	Substances whose use in products will be prohibited by international treaties or laws on and after a specified date Substances whose use in products is voluntarily restricted by Panasonic	Prohibit
Manage		Substances whose actual use status must be further researched and whose impact on health and safety as well as appropriate treatment must be considered Substances whose use or non-use and the amount of use must be further researched	Reduce	Substances whose use, release and transfer should be identified and reduced Substances other than prohibited substances that might pose risks to human health and the environment