Fujitsu: Environmental Care Fujitsu Siemens

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Fujitsu: Environmental Care Fujitsu Siemens

A very comprehensive list of environmental activities, but remember that this is a part-German firm, so has more experience than many firms of strict green rules. NB This article is about Fujitsu Siemens, not Fujitsu Services.

Text of Article

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is deeply committed to environmental care and protection, and through the use of creativity, technology and skills, is actively helping to set new standards in environmental sustainability.

The company was the first global manufacturer to introduce a Blue Angel-certified Green PC to market (1993) and one of the first to implement a full-scale product recycling program (1988). Today Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ growing portfolio of green products ranges from thin clients to desktop PCs to workstations, and its environmental ethos is reflected in everything it does, from product design and manufacturing processes to end-of-life product disposal.

The company is guided by the following environmental principles:

We have a responsibility to society to protect the environment
We act continuously to minimize environmental damage and take steps beyond what is required by law
Every employee is trained in our environmental ethos and obliged to act in a responsible way

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is committed to eliminating the use of harmful and potentially harmful substances in its products and production processes in order to minimize risk to end users and to the environment. This strategy is captured in Environmental Guideline FSC03230 and forms the basis on which all Fujitsu Siemens Computers products are designed.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers strictly forbids the use of banned or restricted-by-law substances that are scientifically-proven to be harmful to human health and the environment. Furthermore, the company avoids the use of substances that may be harmful – even if the full extent of harm has not been definitively established.

In making its assessments, a dedicated team of Fujitsu Siemens Computers environmental experts collect and analyze a wide range of information, including scientific reports, legislation and customer-sourced data. As a result of this intelligence, ongoing changes are made to Guideline FSC03230 and to the Guideline’s list of prohibited hazardous substances and to the list of hazardous substances to be avoided. In the case of a dispute, Fujitsu Siemens Computers takes responsibility by assembling and providing related proof.

All Fujitsu Siemens Computers suppliers are contractually obliged to adhere to the company’s lists of hazardous substances. To ensure compliance, Fujitsu Siemens Computers randomly tests all purchased components to ensure they do not contain hazardous substances.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers maintains a rigorous testing policy. In the development phase, the impact of chemicals, emissions, waste water, noise and energy consumption are thoroughly tested. The use of hazardous substances is only allowed according to legally-given limit values and following a stringent internal approval process. Wherever possible, the company’s intent is to replace dangerous substances with harmless substitutes. Prototypes are double-checked for environmental compliance through a recycling analysis. Fujitsu Siemens Computers works with the electronics industry and its suppliers to introduce new materials when alternatives do not yet exist.

Internally, the company trains and re-trains all employees involved in its environmental design, production and testing processes. In addition, regular internal audits – adhering to the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems – ensure that the company continuously fulfils its environmental commitments.

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Design and Manufacture

Fujitsu Siemens Computers carefully considers environmental impact at every stage of the product lifecycle, from design to manufacture to end-of-life recycling. The company has implemented a strict in-house Guideline called ’Environmentally conscious product design and development’ which applies to all Fujitsu Siemens Computers product development. Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ Environmental Guideline FSC03230 is aimed at reducing waste, minimizing energy consumption and eliminating hazardous substances.

Aligning with the European Union’s WEEE and RoHS directives, the Environmental Guideline FSC 03230 ensures environmental compliance from conception to the very end of a product’s life. The Guideline includes a wide range of directives, from phasing out the use of hazardous substances to ensuring that all products can be easily dismantled for recycling. Environmental Guideline forms part of every Master Purchasing Agreement with Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ suppliers.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers strives to manufacture its products in a sustainable way. For example, the company makes the most of raw materials, energy and water during production by incorporating recycling loops into the assembly lines. Also, by distilling the water used to wash soldering masks and printing screens during mainboard production, 99 percent of the water can be reused.

The company’s Augsburg and Sömmerda, Germany, production facilities have achieved substantial savings in power and materials through an energy and environmental management initiative. Numerous measures introduced since the mid-1990’s have cut the electricity required to manufacture a PC at Augsburg by more than 50 percent, and power consumption at the plant continues to decline even as production rises.

Chemical Use Policy Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ Environmental Guideline FSC03230 ensures that the environmental impact of any chemicals used in its products is kept to a minimum. Since 1993, the company has led the industry in the development and production of Green PCs. Green products such as FUTRO thin clients, ESPRIMO professional PCs and CELSIUS workstations use halogen-free flame retardant plastics and halogen-free Printed Circuit Boards for mainboard and power supply.

Position on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Fujitsu Siemens Computers is phasing out the use of polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) and has added them to its list of hazardous substances to be avoided in the Environmental Guideline FSC03230. PVC are not used in the housing or mechanical parts of Fujitsu Siemens Computers products and are only employed when there is no acceptable substitute. However, long-term, the company is seeking the complete elimination of PVC, and is working in conjunction with its suppliers to source alternative substances. Position on brominated flame retardants (BFRs)

In accordance with Environmental Guideline FSC03230, the use of polybrominated flame retardants in Fujitsu Siemens Computers products is avoided. BFRs are neither used in housings nor in formed plastic parts weighing over 25 grams, which exceeds the requirements set out in the European RoHS directive. Fujitsu Siemens Computers has reduced the chlorine and bromide content of the printed circuit boards in its Green products from 12 percent to less than 0.15 percent and is working with suppliers to eliminate the use of halogen in favour of alternatives that will meet product performance requirements while lowering the risk of health and environmental impact.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers recently joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment coalition to better educate manufacturers about alternatives to bromide flame retardants.

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Green Products

Environmental considerations have been reflected in Fujitsu Siemens Computers products since the 1980’s, and the company’s many industry firsts include the first green PC in 1993 and the first lead-free PC mainboard in 2002.

Today Fujitsu Siemens Computers sells a wide range of green-certified products such as its FUTRO thin clients, ESPRIMO professional PCs and CELSIUS workstations, and the company is continuously expanding its green portfolio with new products. All of these products have been independently tested and proudly bear eco-labels such as Blue Angel, Nordic Swan and Energy Star.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ approach to environmental sustainability was recently validated by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Deutschland, which purchased ESPRIMO professional PCs. The company was the only PC vendor able to meet the organization’s stringent purchasing criteria.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ products deliver benefits far beyond the peace-of-mind that comes from purchasing an environmentally-conscious device. For example, skyrocketing global energy prices is counter-balanced by the use of innovative energy-saving technology and components. Fujitsu Siemens Computers is making energy savings a priority for future product development; today’s innovations are only the beginning. Another feature of Fujitsu Siemens Computers products is their silent operation thanks to the use of advanced noise reduction technology.

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Recycling

The remarketing, reuse and recycling of Fujitsu Siemens Computers products have taken place at the company’s Paderborn, Germany facility since 1988. At Paderborn, approximately 20 percent of Fujitsu Siemens Computers-branded equipment is reused and, currently, only two percent is disposed. The processes employed by Paderborn far exceed the requirements set out in the WEEE directive. Position on Individual Producer Responsibility Fujitsu Siemens Computers supports the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) and recognizes that increasing amounts of end-of-life products, if not properly disposed of, pose a significant threat to the environment.

While Fujitsu Siemens Computers believes IPR can result in more environmentally compliant products and better accountability for equipment manufacturers, it also recognizes that IPR poses significant challenges. Even the most dedicated producer cannot meet the needs and requirements of all stakeholders worldwide in a way that is viable financially, logistically and environmentally. However, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is dedicated to working with the industry at large in order to overcome these challenges.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers has a track record of responsible recycling, remarketing and reuse of electrical and electronic equipment. The company’s Environmental Guideline FSC03230 produces products that lend themselves well to repair, potential upgrading, reuse, disassembly and recycling.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers works very close together with Fujitsu, a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Fujitsu already offers an environmentally sound recycle service in some countries were no take-back requirement was imposed.

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Trade in Programs

Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ maintains a flexible program for the take-back or exchange of equipment in 27 markets across Europe. For details of your local program, click on your respective country on the right navigation. In markets without WEEE legislation, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is voluntarily planning actions to find environmentally sound solutions to take-back and recycle its own products. Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ parent company Fujitsu is responsible for sales in regions outside Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where it is initiating its own take-back and recycling programs.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers will take-back or accept trade-ins on any of its IT products, with no limit on the amount of equipment involved. The company maintains a flexible program whereby a customer can opt for a cash exchange based on the fair market value of the equipment, or can opt for a product exchange. Exchanges can be like-for-like, or products can be traded for something different. For example, older desktop PCs can be exchanged for new servers or storage systems. Furthermore, customers can trade in equipment against warranty upgrades, product training or other professional services. This flexible policy benefits Fujitsu Siemens Computers customers whose IT budgets are under pressure or have been exhausted.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is a leading participant in take-back associations across Europe. It is an active member of the Elektro-Altgeräte Register in Germany and also one of the first to implement the WEEE Garantiesystem Altgeräte (GSA) in Germany, which mandates the “eradication of dumping of orphan waste”. In compliance with the GSA, Fujitsu Siemens Computers provides an insolvency-proof guarantee for financing the collection and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment used in private households.

Process Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ Asset Management Operations will take-back older equipment at an agreed fair market value and collect the equipment free of charge. Customers must only prepare their equipment for collection from a loading bay and ensure it can be transported safely.

Terms and Conditions Equipment will be collected from a single, pre-agreed site and on a one-time basis. The collection from multiple events or locations, and any requirement to package and palletize the equipment could incur a charge. Fujitsu Siemens Computers will audit all equipment purchased through the trade-in scheme for compliance against specification and condition. Any shortfalls in quality and quantity will be noted and set against the purchase price. Take-backs can also be handled in conjunction with waste materials that require WEEE-compliant disposal. Any positive values from saleable equipment can offset the costs for disposal of waste products.

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