5. Environmental
Commitment
5•1
Environmental protection is a
major consideration for the entire
scope of operations at Toshiba.
This is reflected in the careful
design of all our products.
Recycled materials are used whenever possible - such as for the manufacturing of toner cartridges and
developer bottles - with components clearly marked to identify
contents for later recycling.
Recent Toshiba copier models feature an Auto Energy Saver mode
that reduces power consumption
during periods of copier inactivity,
in accord with US Energy Star
standards (Tier 2). Additionally, a
user-adjustable Auto Power Off
function shuts the copier down
after a predetermined period of
inactivity.
Toner cartridges carry embossed
information (in Europe only) rather than paper labels - thereby
assisting in disassembly for later
reuse.
Reductions in the level of noise and
ozone emission ensure the harmony
of the working environment
remains undisturbed.
Whenever possible cardboard packaging is used, with the use of Styrofoam kept to an absolute minimum.
In Europe, genuine Toshiba rollers
are collected and recycled by one
of our authorized manufacturers.
All these things we do as part of a
genuine commitment to environmental protection.
The "Swan Mark"
environmental awards
Toshiba copiers meet with stringent
environmental regulations which
include the marking of plastics for
content identification purposes and
later recycling, the prohibition of
the use of certain flame retardants,
AMES Test examination of toners
to ensure the absence of carcinogenic substances, the selection of
materials without health risks, and
the use of recycled paper.
Moreover, all copiers that have
been awarded the Scandinavian
environmental "Swan Mark" are
Environmental Commitment
5•2
identified as having done so,
through a symbol on the machine.
Recycling of used
supplies and parts
In recent years, Toshiba has been at
the forefront of the copier manufacturing industry in implementing
the recovery of used supplies and
parts for recycling.
We are firmly committed to reducing the use of non-recyclable materials during the manufacturing
process, in order to lower the
amount of material requiring waste
disposal.
In Europe, Toshiba is preparing for
the introduction of new regulations
governing electronic waste. Currently we are working together
with specialist disassembly and
recycling companies and the experience gained through this cooperative effort will be taken into consideration when we develop future
copiers.
Swan Mark
5•3
Europe shows the way
European manufacturers are actively involved in environmentally
friendly recycling, setting a fine
example for others to follow. For
example, in Germany a consistent
solution for the reduction of waste
materials has been achieved
through the introduction of recycling containers. Similar systems
exist in other European countries.
In this system all used materials
gathered either by Toshiba dealers
or service engineers/technicians,
are put into containers that are collected regularly by a Toshiba
authorized agent. The materials are
taken to a central collection point,
where they are then sorted and
grouped according to manufacturer
or by recyclable type.
Manufacturers participating in this
system recycle what materials they
can and dispose of the non-recyclable parts in the most environmentally friendly way.
* This chart represents a complete overview of the
Toshiba copier product range from an environmental
perspective.
Refilled toner
cartridges
Heat rollers
Oil rollers
Drum blades
Drums
Disposal of
non-recyclable
materials
Disposal of
non-recyclable
materials
Consumers
Consumers
Recyclers
Recyclers
Dealers
Dealers
TOSHIBA
Europe
GmbH
TOSHIBA
Europe
GmbH
Sorting
Centre
Sorting
Centre
5•4
Toner container
recycling in the U.S.A.
Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc.-Electronic Imaging Division (TABS EID) located in Irvine,
California, and the Toner Products
Division (TPD) located in Mitchell,
South Dakota, each have longstanding records for environmental
awareness.
In February, 1996, they announced
a national toner container (cartridge) recycling program that provides dealers and end users with
everything necessary to take part
with a minimum of inconvenience.
Dubbed the COLUMBUS System -
the COLlection of Used containers
in the Market which Belongs to the
U.S. - it has achieved the wide-
spread participation and support of
end users.
The COLUMBUS System came
about when Toshiba decided to
move from an "open" to a "closed"
recycling system. State laws also
required the use of PCRs* in the
manufacture of toner containers,
and an expected shortage of recycled plastic led TABS to collect
empty toner containers themselves,
directly from end users (bypassing
dealers), and recycle them at specialist recycling centers. Toshiba
COLlection of Used containers in the Market which Belongs to the U.S.
COLlection of Used containers in the Market which Belongs to the U.S.
COLUMBUS
System
Master Carton
Manufacturer
Master Carton
Manufacturer
PCR Polystyrene
Resin Manufacturer
PCR Polystyrene
Resin Manufacturer
Injection Mold Cartridge
Manufacturer
Injection Mold Cartridge
Manufacturer
TABS/TPD
Toner cartridges & bottles
Packed with UPS label
TABS/TPD
Toner cartridges & bottles
Packed with UPS label
TABS/EID
Distributes to dealers
TABS/EID
Distributes to dealers
Blow Mold Bottle
Manufacturer
Blow Mold Bottle
Manufacturer
End User
Returns empty
cartridges & bottles
using UPS label
End User
Returns empty
cartridges & bottles
using UPS label
UPS
Delivers cartons to
A.M.J. Manufacturing
UPS
Delivers cartons to
A.M.J. Manufacturing
A.M.J. Manufacturing
Separates & grinds
cartridges & bottles
A.M.J. Manufacturing
Separates & grinds
cartridges & bottles
Dealers
Deliver to end user
Dealers
Deliver to end user
HDPE
Recycler
HDPE
Recycler
HDPE Resin
Manufacturer
HDPE Resin
Manufacturer
Corrugated
Recycler
Corrugated
Recycler
Liner Board
Manufacturer
Liner Board
Manufacturer
also changed the color of cartridges
from white to black, due to the use
of PCRs of various colors.
All cartons of TPD-made, EID-distributed Toshiba copier toner now
include a pre-paid UPS (United
Parcel Service) label that is preaddressed to the designated recycling center. All the dealer or enduser has to do is place the empty
toner containers in the original
toner carton, affix the label and
ship it during their normal UPS
pickup.
A further refinement occurred
when it was found that the removal
of paper labels necessitated an
unnecessary step in the recycling
chain. The label material is now
polystyrene, the same as the cartridge, so the label and cartridge
can be ground up and recycled
together, without need of a step to
remove a paper label.
The COLUMBUS System is yet
another example of Toshiba's willingness to take positive action on
environmental matters and adapt as
conditions demand.
Note:
*Factories in the U.S.A., France and Japan began
using PCRs (Post Consumer Resins) in the man
ufacture of toner containers in January, 1995.
PCRs are composed of plastic materials that
have already served their intended end use.
These plastics are collected, sorted and
reprocessed for further use, thereby reducing
landfill.
The International
Energy Star Program
The "International Energy Star Program" sets down energy conservation standards for office automation
equipment. Effective since October,
1995, under an agreement between
the Japanese and U.S. governments, this program was enacted
due to serious environmental concerns (including global warming)
closely related to our daily energy
consumption. Office automation
equipment in particular, is being
introduced at such a rapid pace
both in offices and homes, that
energy conservation has become an
urgent issue. Therefore, efficient
energy usage is achieved by automatically lowering the power when
the equipment is idle.
Five types of equipment - copiers,
facsimiles, printers, monitors, and
computers - were selected for this
program. Products qualify for registration after certain energy conservation standards are met, and
subsequently the International
Energy Star logo may be displayed.
The standards were raised for the
second phase of the program which
began in July, 1997. However,
products that qualified under the
former standards may continue to
5•5
5•6
display the International Energy
Star logo after July 1, 1997, until
those models are gradually taken
off the market.
ISO 14001 - the
International
Standards
Organization's
certification for
environmental
management systems
ISO 14001, which went into effect
September 1, 1996, sets forth
guidelines for corporate environmental policy, and is also the core
of the ISO 14000 series of standards. These standards govern
environmental management systems and environmental audits. ISO
14001 is also the only certification
standard in the ISO 14000 series,
and encompasses all items that
concern environmental management systems.
Furthermore, ISO 14001 sets specific targets which require constant
environmental efforts, although
unlike the Energy Star system it
does not set targets for reducing
power consumption levels.
ISO 14001, although not legally
required by any country, is considered an integral standard by companies throughout the world.
Energy Star
5•7
Factory/Affiliate Country
Series Type
Division
Qualified
Month/Year
Toshiba Europe GmbH
Toshiba TEC Corporation
Yanagicho Works
Toshiba TEC Europe
Imaging Systems S.A.
Toshiba TEC Corporation
Mishima Works
TEC Singapore Electronics PTE.
LTD.
P.T.TEC Indonesia
TIM Electronis SDM.BHD.
Toshiba America
Business Solutions, Inc.
Toshiba Copying Machine
(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
Germany ISO14001 Copier Service Sep/1996
Japan ISO14001
Development, Design
Oct/1996
& Manufacture
France ISO14001 Production Feb/1997
Japan ISO14001 – Mar/1997
Singapore ISO14001 – Apr/1998
Indonesia ISO14001 – Apr/1998
Malaysia ISO14001 – Aug/1998
USA ISO14001 Toner Production Apr/1999
China ISO14001 – May/1999
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