Management of Chemical Substances in Products

Our electrical and electronic products are supported by a long supply chain ranging from raw material manufactures to numerous components and parts manufacturers. In order to contribute to the achievement of the global goal agreed upon at the WSSD, it is important for us to disclose and communicate information about the chemical substances used in our products across the supply chain, for which we must promote cross-industrial initiatives to establish and spread a necessary system. Panasonic has participated in the Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium (JAMP) jointly with approx. 300 major companies from various industries such as chemical, component and equipment manufacturers. In the organization, we are actively establishing, utilizing and disseminating to a wider range of companies a system in which users of the chemical substances with carcinogenicity, mutagenesis, and reproductive toxicity (CMR), as well as those that are persistent and highly accumulative such as PBT and vPvB, can spontaneously convey their information.

• Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium

In addition, we have opened an e-learning system in Japanese, English, and Chinese on the management of chemical substances for the purpose of efficiently requesting upstream suppliers, including both those who directly deal with us and those who do not, to provide us with necessary information. In the future, we will further promote the appropriate management of chemical substances across the supply chain.

In order to develop products with low environmental impacts, it is essential to scientifically understand the impacts that chemical substances used in products might have on human health and the environment. To this end, Panasonic initiated measurement of chemical substances released into the environment from home appliances to assess the environmental impact of such substances, in cooperation with the Itsubo LCA Laboratory, Tokyo City University (former Musashi Institute of Technology). Using an integrated assessment method of environmental impacts developed by National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), called LIME (Life-cycle Impact assessment Method based on End-point modeling) in an evaluation process, Panasonic has been working on assessment of environmental impacts to human health and eco-system. In fiscal 2009, we collected basic data required for the assessment, and in fiscal 2010, we are assessing the environmental impacts of flame retardants and plasticizers.

With regard to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, there are concerns about the generation of hazardous substances through the inappropriate disposal of waste resin and the harmful effects of an additive (phthalate ester) used to soften the resin. Panasonic has decided to discontinue the use of PVC resin in internal wirings in its products newly released in Japan from April 2009, and on a global basis from April 2011, respectively, in consideration of the difficulty to separate PVC resin used in the internal wirings in disposing.

In fiscal 2009, we replaced 40 tons of PVC resin used in the internal wiring of products to be sold in Japan with a substitute. Furthermore, as a result of promoting product design in those to be sold in Japan in and after April 2009, we completed preparations to replace all PVC resin used in the internal wiring of 189 model series with an appropriate substitute. Also, for the use of PVC resin in parts other than internal wirings, we replaced 344 tons used in the power and connection codes for AVC network products.