Expanding our Eco-Product Lineup

Through product assessment during design and green procurement, we are working to minimize the environmental burden of products

Establishing Management Systems

We drew up the Hitachi Group Ecodesign Management Guidelines based on the IEC 62430 international standard (environmentally conscious design for electrical and electronic products and systems). Using these guidelines, we are establishing a management system where divisions such as business planning, design, procurement, manufacturing, and quality control are required to be environmentally conscious and to keep records on processes and results. The first step is to analyze environmental requirements, both legal and those of stakeholders. Next, we identify the environmental attributes of these requirements, such as energy efficiency, ease of disassembly and disposal, and the effects of these attributes. The analysis and the target setting (plan) leads to a PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle, followed by environmentally conscious design and development (do), and review and ongoing improvement (check and act). Each of these processes uses analysis and evaluation tools, and involves communication and information management.
Moreover, we are incorporating the ecodesign concept into quality or environmental management systems at production facilities that have acquired ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 certification. We also are building up a system that can be clearly implemented, as well as bring out products with a reduced environmental burden that comply with the European Union EuP Directive^*1 requirements.

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EuP Directive
Directive on Ecodesign of Energy-using Products

Basic Concept of Ecodesign (Environmentally Conscious Design) Management

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Design for Environment (DfE) Assessment System

We have introduced a DfE assessment system as an analysis/ evaluation tool used for ecodesign management. We use this system during product development to quantitatively assess and reduce the environmental burden of a product throughout its life cycle—from material procurement to production, distribution, use, and disposal. Products achieving a score above a certain level are designated as Eco-Products, and their environmental information is disclosed. DfE assessment is applied not only to hardware but also to systems, software, and other products. In fiscal 2008, the assessment was revised to comply with the European EuP Directive.
Taking advantage of our technological capabilities to make our products more environmentally efficient, we are developing products with the goal of making all Group products Eco-Products by fiscal 2025.

Development of Super Eco-Products

To further develop environmentally conscious products, we have established the Super Eco-Products category for those Eco-Products that meet even more demanding requirements. The global warming prevention efficiency or resource efficiency of these products must be at least ten times greater than reference products (products of fiscal 2000), or they must be leaders in their industry in the energy efficiency standard achievement rate^*1 and other factors, or must be highly rated outside the company. Our target is to have at least 30 percent of Eco-Products qualify as Super Eco-Products by fiscal 2010.

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Energy efficiency standard achievement rate
This value indicates the rate of achievement of the energy efficiency targets set for applicable home appliances based on the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (also known as the energy saving law). The target values are defined by the most energy efficient products available at the time.

Hitachi’s Eco-Product System

• How DfE Assessment Is Performed

Eco-Product Increase

In fiscal 2008, 1,103 products and 6,961 models were registered as Eco-Products, for a registration rate of 98 percent (applicable product scope: information and telecommunication systems, digital media and consumer products) and 86 percent (applicable product scope: electronic devices, power and industrial systems, high functional materials and components, logistics, services and others). The ratio of Eco-Product sales to total sales of the Hitachi Group increased to 47 percent. The number of Super Eco-Products included in these totals was 129 products and 375 models, or 18 percent of all Eco-Products. The goal for fiscal 2010 is to achieve a sales ratio of 50 percent for Eco-Products.

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Product categories: Information and telecommunications systems, digital media and consumer products

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Product categories: Electronic devices, power and industrial systems, high functional materials and components, logistics, services and others

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Making Products More Energy Efficient

To help prevent global warming, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced over the entire product life cycle, not only during manufacturing and shipping but also during use. The Hitachi Group is working on energy-efficient products with lower greenhouse gas emissions while they are being used, the part of the product life cycle responsible for the greatest amount of emissions.

Percentage of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Product Life Cycle (example)

As a measure of how effectively greenhouse gas emissions are being reduced during a product’s life cycle, we introduced global efficiency of warming prevention. Rating a product’s value for function, and during its life span, this measure shows the ratio of this value to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions over the product life cycle. In addition, factor of global warming prevention is used to indicate the amount of improvement in efficiency of global warming prevention compared with a reference product.

Global Warming Prevention Factor Calculation

• Example of Improving Efficiency of Global Warming Prevention

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Making Products More Resource Efficient

The Hitachi Group uses resource efficiency to evaluate how effectively resources are being used during the product life cycle, such as making products lighter and more compact. Rating a product’s value for function and during its life span, this measure shows the ratio of this value to the amount of resource use over the product life cycle.^*1 In addition, a resource factor is used to indicate the amount of improvement in resource efficiency compared with a reference product.

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Amount of resource use over life cycle
Newly used resource amount + discarded resource amount

Resource Factor Calculation

• Example of Improving Resource Efficiency

• Product and package recycling

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Controlling Chemical Substances Included in Products

For the Hitachi Group’s voluntarily controlled chemical substances, we defined 13 prohibited substances (Level 1) and 12 controlled substances (Level 2), and took steps to comply with the RoHS directive^*1 and other global regulations for chemical substances in products. We achieved RoHS compliance in July 2006.
To comply with REACH,^*2 a chemical substance regulation in Europe, in fiscal 2008, we made an all-out effort, including drawing up action guidelines, revising our information infrastructure, and improving our management structure. We now track all chemical substances used in the Hitachi Group, from raw materials to end products. To do this, a Group-wide committee compiled a list of controlled substances covered by the REACH regulation (by adding REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) to the existing list of controlled substances). The committee also drew up a set of procedures, and created an information infrastructure for compliance with the REACH regulation across the entire supply chain: procurement, production, and shipping. We began putting this system into operation in November 2008.

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RoHS directive
Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment

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REACH regulation
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EU)

Covering the Entire Supply Chain

Working closely with suppliers and customers, we improved our information management system for chemical substances across the supply chain, from procurement to sales. In November 2008, the integrated management system for chemical substances included in products, an IT system which had been used for the RoHS directive, was applied to the REACH regulation. To collect data from thousands of suppliers, we use JAMP^*1 information sheets (JAMP AIS^*2 and JAMP MSDSplus^*3). JAMP is a consortium for managing and disclosing chemical content in products. In addition, an information flow trial was started in January 2009 to test the information exchange on chemical substances in the entire supply chain.

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JAMP：Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium

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JAMP AIS：JAMP Article Information Sheet

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JAMP MSDSplus：JAMP Material Safety Data Sheet plus

Integrated Management System for Chemical Substances Contained in Products

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Promotion of Green Procurement

The Hitachi Group has drawn up the Green Procurement Guidelines to gain cooperation from suppliers in the development of environmentally conscious products. Encouraging environmental protection activities by suppliers, we are asking for their understanding and cooperation to develop and supply products with low environmental burdens.
After identifying green suppliers—those who understand the importance of environmental protection and who voluntarily acquire environmental certification—we look for ways of working with them to further improve their operations from an environmental standpoint. These efforts include mutual exchange of proposals aimed at benefiting from energy and resource efficiency for lower costs, improved quality, and faster delivery.
For developing and making products that result in a lower environmental burden, we ask suppliers to (1) conserve resources (through miniaturization, standardization, etc.), (2) conserve energy, (3) aggressively pursue the three Rs,^*1 (4) reduce packaging materials, (5) properly manage chemical substances used in products, and (6) provide clear information. Of these, (1) to (4) can make suppliers more competitive by lowering costs and improving product functionality. To help drive home these advantages, we present case studies and encouragement.
Furthermore, we refer to the proportion of environmentally conscious office supplies purchased as the green purchasing rate, and we are promoting the use of the e-sourcing Mall as the office supply purchasing system at Hitachi Group companies. In fiscal 2008, the green purchasing rate reached 82 percent and we are aiming to increase it to 90 percent in fiscal 2010.

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Three Rs
Reduce, reuse, recycle

• Green Procurement Guidelines(PDF format, 549kbytes)

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Disclosure of Environmental Information

We disclose environmental information on Eco-Products and Super Eco-Products in accordance with ISO 14021, and add the mark below as a symbol of this activity. For Eco- Products and Super Eco-Products, we make available Web site datasheets for such information as power consumed during use. We also issue pamphlets that present quantitative data showing the efficiency of global warming prevention and resource efficiency of products compared with reference models.

• Environmental Efficiency of Hitachi Products Based on Factor X 2009 (in English) (PDF format, 1.45MBytes)
• Environmental Efficiency of Hitachi Products Based on Factor X 2009 (In Japanese) (PDF format, 5.05MBytes)

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