BIOS: Technology Means Business

27 April 2006 - TOSHIBA TEC Europe is the first retail and industrial automation solutions provider to be fully compliant with the new EU Directive on Waste Management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

And while there is still no date announced for the Directive to become law in the UK, TOSHIBA TEC is planning to push ahead with pro-active measures to minimize harmful and hazardous materials, including a scheme to take back its old products from business customers.

The EU Directive has been driven by the increased use of fridges, computers, TVs and mobile phones that has led to the creation of millions of tonnes of electrical and electronic waste thrown away every year. In the UK alone it is estimated that electrical and electronic waste increases every 12 months by some 80,000 tonnes.

The problem is that not enough is being recycled and so the EU WEEE Directive looks at how waste production is managed and collected. New standards for the treatment of WEEE include strict recycling and recovery targets, which will help minimise its disposal and thus protect the environment and human health. The Directive on WEEE also includes measures to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

Toshiba believes strongly that the problem of waste requires joint actions from not only producers and distribution channels but also the end-users. "The company is fulfilling its WEEE legislative duties in the UK long before its main competitors. Japanese firms are truly pioneers in setting the right example for professional waste management," says Dr. Annetje Huizinga, former Director ICT Office.

TOSHIBA TEC has consistently taken its environmental responsibility seriously.
In 2000 it first published its now annual 'Sustainability Report' on its global objectives and achievements on Environmental Policy. The company regularly collects environmental information on its production, sales and service sites in order to reduce the environmental impact of each business. And as part of its commitment to 'green procurement' TOSHIBA TEC conducts environmental protection assessments on all its suppliers and procured products.

"We are continually developing products that are environmentally friendly throughout their life cycle," says Manabu Niwase, Director Product & Marketing, TOSHIBA TEC Europe. "Just by reducing the size and weight of products, for example, improves not only performance but also reduces energy consumption."

"We have worked hard to eliminate hazardous substances in our products," added Niwase; "from 1 July 2006, lead, mercury, cadmium and 6-chrome will no longer be found in new products and we will not be using the restricted RoHS halogenated flame retardants in our polymers. This is all part of our global program to ensure people's safety and health."

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