Fujitsu Services and the Environment
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Revision as of 09:39, 12 July 2007
Contents |
Summary
What the Vendor says about itself
Going green, Saving the environment
Although many companies view environmentalism as a luxury rather than a necessity, here's an electronic giant that thinks otherwise Article is written by Chuah Khai Lin. Reproduced courtesy of AboutWe Pte Ltd
A leader in the IT industry, Fujitsu is harnessing its technologies and creativity to contribute to sustainable development. Fujitsu attaches great importance to the environmental compatibility of its products. This end-toend strategy spans the entire lifecycle of the products, from development to the selection of materials and production, right through to recycling.
"Preserving the Earth is among the most pressing issues faced by the human race. We at Fujitsu are practicing environmental management in our day-to-day operations because we feel that responding to environmental issues is a prerequisite for management. I firmly believe that the essence of environmental management boils down to actions taken by individual employees who are aware of their responsibilities as citizens of Earth" stressed Mr Naoyuki Akikusa, Chairman of Fujitsu Ltd, in one of his key speeches.
Based on the principle of "Manufacturing in Harmony with Nature’, Fujitsu has been actively pursuing environmental activities since its establishment. Their environmental programmes include the establishment of zero-emission plants, the creation of eco-friendly products, introduction of environmental technologies, implementation of an environmental management system and environmental accounting.
Environmental Certification ISO 14001
Fujitsu has also implemented an environmental management system in compliance with ISO 14001 as the basis for all of its business operation. In March 2004, Fujitsu’s corporate office as well as the Sales and Soft Service division were given the ISO14001 certification. This entire ISO certification activity involved about 48,000 employees, making it Japan’s largest single ISO certification.
Overcoming obstacles
As expected, embarking on this green journey is not an easy task. Some of the obstacles Fujitsu faced were - difficulties to quantify and assess the positive environmental impact of Fujitsu’s environmental activities, and replacing of hazardous substances in some of Fujitsu’s parts. Fujitsu overcame the former by developing environmental indicators at an early stage. In fact, they are the first to promote the use of indicators with environmental efficiency factor calculation method to assess environmental improvement effects quantitatively. Fujitsu is also involved in the Eco-efficiency Examination Committee sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to develop a new approach for a specialised environmental indicator called the Eco-efficiency Factor. The Eco-efficiency Factor will be used to measure the delivery of competitively priced products and services that are able to satisfy consumer needs while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource consumption throughout the life cycle of the product. With that in place, Fujitsu will be able to evaluate environmental burdens and service performance of existing products, plus measure any relative improvements in any upcoming products. As for replacement of hazardous substances in some of Fujitsu’s products, Fujitsu overcame it by making some significant changes in the production process.
Reforestation projects in Southeast Asia
To extend their environmental efforts beyond factory operations, the Fujitsu Eco Club was established in June 2001. The purpose of this club is to help employees promote and organise voluntary environmental activities. Fujitsu placed very heavy emphasis on enlisting every employee’s voluntary participation to protect the green Earth.
For the past several years, Fujitsu has been conducting reforestation projects in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. In 2002, the Fujitsu Group Malaysia Eco-Forest Park in Sabah, East Malaysia was opened. The project is being funded through the contributions and volunteer activities of executives, employees, the workers union and many others from the Fujitsu Group, which totals more than 10,000 people. Once the forestation is completed, administration of the park will be transferred to Sabah Forestry Development Authority. The entire area will be designated as "eco-forest park’ and will be use for environmental studies and eco-tourism. In Vietnam, 200,000 trees were planted and it is estimated to have absorbed CO2 approximately equivalent to the amount generated by 571 households in 2002.
The 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Even consumers are not left out in their quest for a greener environment. Fujitsu installed a comprehensive recycling programme for customers, whereby old computers and notebooks are collected, disassembled and recycled using Fujitsu’s recycling centres around Japan. In the year 2002, Fujitsu collected an amazing12,380 tonnes of recycled products and achieved a resources reuse rate of 84.1%. This result represented a decline of 1% in the resources reuse rate compared with the preceding year due to a rise in the volume of waste plastic consisting unidentified materials collected. To rectify this problem, more identification machines for plastic waste materials will be installed.
Today there is increasing global recognition of the need to address the environmental burden created by the disposal of computer and consumer electronics products. Taking into consideration trends in environmental regulation outside Japan and varying conditions of each country, Fujitsu will be establishing recycling systems in Europe by the end of fiscal 2004 and in North America and Asia by the end of fiscal 2006. So, it won’t be too long from now to see a Fujitsu recycling scheme in your neighbourhood.
Recognition & Awards
In recognition of their environmental efforts in reforestation activities and superior environment-related technology, Fujitsu has received numerous awards and commendations. Some of the awards Fujitsu had garnered over the years include FTSE4 Good Global Index, 2002 Resources Circulation Technology and System Recognition and Top Ten Workplaces in Philippines Region IV, just to name a few.
Fujitsu has definitely set a very good example for many giant corporations out there. As you can see, being environmentally friendly isn’t just for the tree huggers - it’s for everyone who wants to make a positive change for the future generations.
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Green Policy 21
At Fujitsu, the corporation takes their responsibilities very seriously, both locally and around the world. The organisation aims to put into practice the highest possible environmental standards by implementing programs such as "Green Life 21" with the slogan "Focused on the Green". This initiative observes the 21st century environmental awareness activities, defines environmental objectives and sets extremely high standards for all Fujitsu companies to follow.
Through "Green Life 21", Fujitsu places "Green Earth" as the core and dissect the environmental activities into three areas: "Green Products", "Green Factories", and "Green Solutions". "Green Management" is set as the base of all these activities.
Green Policy Products
We are promoting production of a product which considered environment in the whole life cycle through creation of new technologies for environmentally conscious products, and providing "Super Green Products" which boast at least one of various best-of-breed environmentally conscious qualities, and also reusing.
Green Policy Factories We strive toward actualization of environmentally conscious manufacturing, through "Green Process" activities that limit resource consumption that leads to environmental burden, and through "Green Facility" activities to reduce emissions.
Green Policy Solutions We are contributing to reducing the environmental burden imposed by society through "Environmentally Conscious Solutions" which are highly effective in reducing environmental burden. We help reduce the environmental burden by improving our client companies' operating efficiency.
Green Policy Earth We are promoting enhancement of environmental education and the voluntary environmental activities by employees. Every employee is playing a leading role and contributing to the global environment.
Green Policy Management We established an environmental management system in accordance with the international standard(ISO14001), as the basis of all activities. We are strengthening Group-Wide “Sustainable management” and aim to improvement in the environmental performance.
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Productive Activity that considers the Environment
To reduce the burden imposed on the environment by the use of resources and energy at our factories and in our business activities, we are actively promoting the reduction of waste and chemical emissions and energy conservation measures.
As a means of promoting these environmental burden reduction measures, Fujitsu implements a range of Green Process and Green Facility activities. Our business activities are rooted firmly in strict observance of relevant laws and regulations; we also take a comprehensive approach to eliminating environmental risk before it occurs.
Green Process Activities
While reducing the costs of our production processes, we have set numerical targets for reducing the environmental burden of each production line (resource consumption, chemical use, energy consumption, and so on). We are continuously working to reduce our figures in these areas as much as possible.
Green Facility Activities
To ensure stable factory operations and reductions in the environmental burden, we are making improvements to our infrastructure, pursuing thorough environmental compliance, seeking to eliminate environmental risk, and working to reduce consumption levels for energy, water, and chemicals.
Waste Generation Reduction
The Fujitsu Group takes the "3R" concept—reducing, reusing, and recycling—as a fundamental principle for its business activities. With our eye on the achievement of a true recycling society, we are seeking to take our 3R activities to a higher level by promoting this approach among all our employees.
Waste Generation Reduction: Moves to reduce waste (excluding recoverables) generated through business activities.
Chemical Pollutant Reduction
The four Fujitsu production facilities, six consolidated manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan, and two consolidated manufacturing subsidiaries overseas use large amounts of chemical substances. These production sites have created usage reduction plans for 354 Class 1 substances identified in the PRTR Law*.
To help the facilities achieve the targets in these plans, chemical emissions reduction working groups gather twice a year to confirm levels of emissions and investigate problems. As part of efforts to meet chemical-reduction targets, we carefully maintain equipment used to handle gas and water effluent and undertake Green Process activities to standardize chemical usage and reduce the volume discharged.
- The PRTR Law identifies chemical substances that are subject to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and defines reporting requirements concerning their emission.
Total elimination of ozone layer depletion substances
We have completely eliminated the use of substances that contribute to depletion of the ozone layer in our manufacturing operations(parts cleaners and solvents). We have also taken measures to ensure that no CFC coolants used in air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment leak into the atmosphere. When renovating such equipment, we take the opportunity to replace
the coolants with non-CFC alternatives.
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Global Warming Countermeasures
In order to prevent global warming, we will move forward with energy savings in our plants and offices, cut emissions of greenhouse gases, build efficient logistical networks and provide IT solutions together with products that save or stimulate the saving of energy. We will do this throughout the entire life cycles of our business activities.
Our Thinking on Preventing Global Warming
On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol came into effect, and there is international insistence on pressing ahead even more vigorously with measures to halt global warming.
We in the Fujitsu Group are hard at work to prevent warming throughout the life cycles of our business activities. We have established a fiscal 2010 target for reducing the direct emission of greenhouse gases from energy consumed in our plants and offices, or gases used in manufacturing, in conformity with agreements made within the industry in Japan.
We have also begun activities to diminish indirect emissions, such as emission of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses at non-Fujitsu facilities in conjunction with distribution activities, the manufacture of procured components, or in scrapping or recycling processes.
In addition, by providing products and environmental solutions that contribute to energy savings, we are helping customers to save energy and thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Decreasing Carbon Dioxide Emissions Related to Energy Consumption
We are moving forward with a variety of energy-saving measures and have made it a goal to limit the amount of CO2 emissions due to energy consumption to below the fiscal 1990 level by the end of fiscal 2010. As an intermediate goal, we have set a target of reducing such emissions to 15% below the fiscal 2000 level by the end of fiscal 2006.
- Energy-saving measures for equipment with a focus on motive power facilities (introduction of free cooling, inverters, energy-saving facilities)
- Increased efficiencies through revised manufacturing processes, accompanied by proper motive power facility operation and improvement of management
- Proper settings for office air conditioning, energy saved with lighting and office automation equipment
Cutting Emissions of Greenhouse Gases other than Carbon Dioxide
The semiconductor industry has established a voluntary action plan to cut the emissions of PFC, HFC and SF6, which are all greenhouse gases.
We have set a target of reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses other than CO2 to 10% below the fiscal 1995 level by the end of fiscal 2010. Our Electronic Devices Group is continuing to change over to gases with lower global warming potential as well as install equipment to eliminate PFCs on new manufacturing lines.
Cuts in Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Distribution Process
As a manufacturer that must transport its products, we, and others charged with transporting our goods, are reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the distribution process ( these are known as "Green Logistics " activities).
Environmental Engagement in Products and Software & Services
By providing our customers with environmental solutions and products designed to save energy, we will reduce carbon dioxide that is produced when our products are used.
Energy-saving Designs for Our Products
We are working to improve the energy-saving performance of our products through the development of Super Green Products and Green Products. Based on this, we have been able to attain various energy-savings standards and target levels, which will reduce the power consumed when our products are used.
Providing Environmental Solutions
We compute the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions that would result from introducing an IT solution, and inform customers of this as part of our solution offering. Also, we certify those IT solutions where carbon dioxide emissions can be cut by 15% or greater as Environmentally Conscious Solutions and provide certification to our customers.
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Employee Environmental Education/Awareness
Environmental Solutions
Environmental Operations Solutions
Combining the practical knowledge we have developed over the years in environmental activities with the very latest in IT capabilities, we provide Environmental Operations Solutions to support customer environmental management and environmental administration in a wide range of operational areas, such as environmental management systems, life cycle assessments and support for ecofriendly design, Green Procurement, monitoring to save energy and resources, waste management, recycling management and information disclosure.
Environmentally Conscious Solutions
Focusing on the benefits that IT offers in reducing environmental burdens, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. has developed a method to quantitatively evaluate the benefits of adopting IT solutions. This method involves evaluating carbon dioxide emissions relating to various factors that impact the environment, such as consumption of materials or the movement of people, and thus shows the benefits in reducing environmental burdens after introducing an IT solution. IT solutions where the concomitant benefit in reduction of environmental burden is calculated to be 15% or greater (in terms of carbon dioxide) are certified as Environmentally Conscious Solutions.
We have begun full-scale use of this certification system from June 2004, and as of the end of April 2005, 28 of our solutions have been certified as Environmentally Conscious Solutions. During fiscal 2004, these Environmentally Conscious Solutions helped prevent 34,500t in carbon dioxide emissions.
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