Updating the Green Procurement System and Meeting Reduction Targets for VOC Emissions

As part of the strict management of chemical substances across the entire supply chain, Konica Minolta updated its green procurement system in October 2009 in order to establish a system capable of meeting the future requirements of chemical management. In fiscal 2010, the Group carried out a comprehensive survey of around 2,000 suppliers of all Group companies in and outside Japan using the new SIGMA Green Procurement System. Based on the findings, the Group will ensure that banned substances are not used, and will continue to phase out the use of highly hazardous substances.
In addition, since 1993, Konica Minolta has worked to reduce atmospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at its production sites around the world. VOCs are deemed to represent a high risk in terms of hazard and volume. The Group has worked systematically to eliminate the use of highly toxic solvents by fiscal 2010, eliminating benzene, formaldehyde, and chloroform by fiscal 2004, and the remaining applicable substance, 1,2-dichloroethane, during fiscal 2010. VOC emissions including other solvents increased compared with the previous year due to increased production in response to the economic recovery in fiscal 2010, but the Group achieved the target for the year.

*1

China RoHS: Administrative Measure on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products. Hazardous substances regulations enacted by China in March 2007.

*2

Environmental impact index: An index unique to Konica Minolta designed to measure impact on the environment, obtained by multiplying VOC emission volume by a hazard factor (impact on human health and environmental impact) and a location factor.

• Standards for Calculating Environmental Data

More information on the target areas is available at the following links:

• Specific Initiatives