Environment

Basic Concept

There is international agreement on the need to take steps to minimize the adverse effects on human health and the environment when companies manufacture or use chemical substances. Beginning with the REACH regulations* in Europe, a movement is now underway, in Japan and the U.S. as well, to revise regulations of chemicals, which requires companies to manage chemical substances at a higher standard. Taking the lead in making these changes, the entire Konica Minolta Group is working to reduce its use of harmful chemicals or to eliminate them completely. The Group is focused on executing advanced evaluation of chemical risks, reducing the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere, eliminating hazardous substances from production processes and products, and improving safety management for workers and product users.

*

REACH regulations: The EU consolidated its earlier regulations concerning chemical substances, and in June 2007, enacted new regulations for the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals.