Toshiba had previously released a PVC and BFR-free PC in March 2011. After having a penalty point imposed in 2010, Toshiba made a new commitment to phase out PVC, BFRs, antimony and compounds, beryllium and compounds, and phthalates by fiscal year 2015 from all its consumer products. This timeline is too slow compared to its competitors, but the fact that Toshiba’s commitment covers all products and a range of hazardous substances is welcome.
Toshiba also scores poorly on other Products criteria. The company does not publish information on its warranties and availability of spare parts. Toshiba has a new target, set for fiscal year 2012, to increase the ratio of recycled plastics used for products to 3% in fiscal year 2015. It also needs to report on the percentage of its products that meet and exceed Energy Star standards for each product range.
It also scores poorly on Energy criteria. Toshiba has reduced its emissions of CO2 in line with its previous targets, and aims to keep CO2 emissions below 60% of the fiscal year 1990 level. The presentation of these objectives is confusing and difficult to compare with the need to reduce its GHG emissions by at least 30% by 2015 for its own operations. Toshiba uses pre-Fukushima electricity emission co-efficients for the Japanese energy mix, which is misleading. Toshiba gives some examples of energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy, but does not have a clean energy strategy. Toshiba aims to use renewable energy for a wider range of its operations, and needs to set a target to dramatically increase renewable electricity use by 2020 and use political opportunities like the draft Feed-In Tariff (FIT) law in Japan to advocate for more access to renewable energy. It reports its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its operations, but not for business travel and does not provide third-partyverification for this data.
Toshiba scores relatively better on Sustainable Operations, though it has made little progress since the last edition. The company provides data on its global recycling rates for TVs and PCs, together with a detailed breakdown, though it has no substantial information on its India programme. Toshiba still needs to expand its take-back programme to non-OECD countries for its TVs. On conflict minerals, Toshiba has carried out supplier surveys and begun tracing, but has not yet publicly mapped its smelters and suppliers. Toshiba has a detailed chemicals management programme that is based on the precautionary principle. Toshiba fails to score on paper sourcing as it does not have a paper procurement policy that excludes suppliers who are involved in deforestation and illegal logging.
Toshiba's performance in detail: Download the company’s Scorecard here