In 1999, we introduced a Design for Environment (DfE) assessment system that sets specific environmentally conscious criteria for designing and developing products and services to minimize their environmental burden. Products that meet DfE standards are designated as Eco-Products. One of our goals is to increase the Eco-Product sales ratio, or the ratio of Eco-Product sales to total product sales.
In fiscal 2010, the number of models designated as Eco-Products rose by 1,069 to 9,456. This brought the Eco-Product sales ratio to 60 percent, topping our goal of 55 percent. Key factors driving the improved sales ratio were the registration of more Eco-Products for systems, software, and services, as well as business growth in construction machinery and automobiles.
Our Third Environmental Action Plan (FY 2011– 2015) sets the goal of boosting the Eco-Products sales ratio to 65 percent by fiscal 2015. Given the growing localization of design, production and sales in recent years, our particular focus is to use DfE assessments to promote more Eco-Product development outside Japan.
Trend in the Eco-Product Sales Ratio
Eco-Product Increase
The Eco-Product registration ratio is the ratio of Eco-Product sales to sales of all products for which DfE is applicable. Up until fiscal 2010, we were increasing the number of Eco-Products in specific product areas, but from now on we intend to make all our new products Eco-Products.
In 1999, Hitachi introduced an environmental information labeling system that uses symbols and data sheets to provide environmental information on environmentally conscious products.
Hitachi’s
environmental
mark
Hitachi’s environmental mark indicates that a DfE assessment has shown the product to be an Eco-Product, informing stakeholders that the product’s environmental burden has been highly improved. We also use our Web site to disclose environmental information, such as data sheets that include power consumption for each environmentally conscious product and case studies of products that helped improve environmental efficiency.
The Carbon Footprint of Products (CFP) is the carbon equivalent of the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted over the entire life cycle of a product or service—from procurement of raw materials through to disposal and recycling. It is displayed on an easily understood label. This allows people to compare the CFP of similar products and services to select the product or service with the lowest environmental burden, and also helps businesses supply products and services to improve their own global warming prevention efforts.
We participated in the CFP Pilot Project run by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and other ministries, and in fiscal year 2010 acquired permission to use the CFP label for our interactive whiteboard (StarBoard) based teleconferencing system.
The top figure (4,750 kg) is the amount of GHGs that will be emitted over the product’s entire life cycle, where it is used in the following scenario during use for ten years.
Hitachi Solutions holds a 1.15-hour conference involving six people 0.89 times per week (53.2 hours and 46.3 times per year) over the 500 km distance between Tokyo and Osaka. Details of the system setup are available on the official CFP Web site.
The 8.93 kg figure is the amount of GHGs emitted over the product’s entire life cycle where it is used for one-hour conferences based on this scenario.
