Innovative combination of the CPU for energy saving mobile PC and the chipset for the server which adopts high performance ECC memory (which has a function to detect and correct errors) realized *1 both support of energy-saving, high performance and reliability at the same time. This model succeeded in the increase of the throughput to almost double, and the reduction of standby power by approx. 8%, compared with the previous models.
Top Page > Corporate Data > Social and Environmental Activities > Environment & TOSHIBA TEC > Eco-Products > Development of Environmentally Conscious Products
Development of Environmentally Conscious Products
Contribution to the Reduction of Environmental Impacts on Society through the Provision of Environmentally-Conscious Products or ECPs
TOSHIBA TEC Corporation develops ECPs, where environmental impacts are reduced throughout their product life cycles. Activities are accelerating, while using Factor T, the TOSHIBA Group’s eco-efficiency indicator for overall evaluation of a product value and its environmental impacts.
Concept regarding Product Development
The TOSHIBA TEC Group creates "ECPs"*1 where environmental impacts are reduced throughout their product life cycles*2 . Most of the environmental impacts generated throughout a product life cycle are determined at the product planning and design stages, thus, TOSHIBA TEC Corporation focuses on the upstream stage of product development.
- *1 ECP: Environmentally-Conscious Products
- *2 Product life cycle: All stages from materials procurement, manufacturing and transportation, through to usage, recycling and disposal.
Environmentally-Conscious Product Development
Focusing on compliance with laws and regulations in and outside Japan, conformity with the Green Purchasing Law, and acquisition of major environmental labels such as Japanese Eco Mark, German Blue Angel and International ENERGY STAR ® Program, TOSHIBA TEC Group works toward developing products in compliance with such standards, starting at the product planning stage.
For voluntary activities, "Enhancement of product eco-efficiency," "Provision of ECPs" and "Abolition of the use of certain chemical substances" defined as product-related objectives in the Fourth Voluntary Plan for Environmental Protection are highlighted.
In terms of "Provision of ECPs," the "Voluntary Environmental Standards for Each Product*3 " are specified to prescribe the industry’s top-level requirements for environmental considerations for each product, to create ECPs, and are determined as the goals for product development.
- *3 URL for Voluntary Environmental Standards for Each Product
URL http://www.tec.jp/env/pos2.htm in Japanese only
URL http://www.toshibatec.co.jp/gcompany/env/eco04.htm in Japanese only
The "Voluntary Environmental Standards for Each Product" define environmental considerations at each stage of a product life cycle, based on the need for reducing environmental impacts throughout a product life cycle. In fiscal 2009, products in compliance with the Voluntary Environmental Standards originated in product groups of POS terminals, electronic cash registers, bar code printers, and monochrome MFPs.
The target ratio of ECPs to sales in compliance with the New Voluntary Environmental Standards by fiscal 2012 is 85%, and 80% was achieved in fiscal 2009.
The following shows an example of products in compliance with the Voluntary Environmental Standards in fiscal 2009:
Environmentally-Conscious Products (ECPs)
POS terminal for Supermarkets or Mass Retailers, "M-8000"
Energy saving
- *1 Received an award from Intel Corporation.
The achievement of collaborative development was recognized, and the development team received a testimonial plaque from Mr.Eric Chan (Director, IPD Asia, Infrastructure Processor Division, CIG Asia at Intel Corporation).
Resource saving
Approximately 8% of mass was reduced from the previous model. Also, recycled plastic and plant-based plastic are used for a part of this product.
Reduction of environmental impact substances
Compliance with the RoHS directive due to the use of lead-free solder and chrome-free metal plate. Also, halogen-free plastic and printed circuit board are used.
Monochrome Digital MFP "e-STUDIO255/355/455"
Energy saving
Owing to the reduction of unnecessary power and the increase of the power efficiency by units, the standby power consumption is reduced by 95%, compared with the previous model. In the case the MFP is in the standby mode for a long time through the night, this feature can contribute to the running cost reduction.
Also, by shortening the recovery time from standby and adopting the SoC (System On Chip) technology, this product not only achieves the top-class energy saving performance in the International ENERGY STAR ® Program, but also fulfills German Blue Angel standard.
Resource saving
Our effort in the resource circulation includes the adoption of the toner recycling mechanism which enables zero disposal of toner, and the doubling of the recycled plastic rate per machine, compared with the previous model.
Reduction of environmental impact substances
This product complies with the European Union's RoHS Directive, Battery Directive, and other international regulations related to the restriction of hazardous chemical substances.
Environmental labels
This product is bearing environmental labels, such as "Eco mark," "ECO-LEAF," "German Blue Angel" and "International ENERGY STAR ® ."
Eco-efficiency "Factor T"
In fiscal 2004, TOSHIBA TEC Corporation introduced an "eco-efficiency" concept, in which the value of a product and the product's environmental impacts are related, and has been implementing "Factor T," which compares the eco-efficiency of a product in the year subject to assessment to the eco-efficiency of a product in the benchmark year.
Eco-efficiency is calculated by dividing the "value" of a product by the product’s "environmental impact." The lower the environmental impact and the higher the value of the product, the greater is the eco-efficiency.
Definition of "Eco-efficiency"
Definition of "Factor"
The value of a product is calculated based on QFD*1, taking the voice of customers into consideration including usability and customer satisfaction toward TOSHIBA TEC products.
The environmental impact of a product is calculated based on LCA*2, taking into consideration various environmental impacts throughout its life cycle.
For integrating environmental impacts, TOSHIBA TEC Corporation uses LIME*3, which was developed by the Research Center for Life Cycle Assessment of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology or AIST in collaboration with the Japanese government's LCA project.
The factor indicates how many times the eco-efficiency of the benchmark product is to be the eco-efficiency of a product subject to assessment. The higher the eco-efficiency of the product, the larger the factor becomes.
The following shows an example of factors for major products.
"Value factor" is a relative value of a product subject to assessment relative to the benchmark product, and "1/Environmental impact factor" is also a relative value of the environmental impact.
- *1 QFD (Quality Function Deployment)
- *2 LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
- *3 LIME (Life-cycle Impact assessment Method based on Endpoint modeling)
