Eco Factory

Chemical Management
In order to prevent environmental pollution, we strictly control the chemical substances we use.
We are working to find alternative substances and methods for reducing the use of hazardous chemicals.
At the same time, we are also making efforts to determine which chemical substances arepresent in the products we purchase.

Stance on Chemical Management

TEL statistics for PRTR target substances in fiscal 2001 are

Depending on the handling methods and types, the chemicals

shown in the table below. Of substances that are subject to reportingused in business activities could pose risks of environmental pollu-

under the PRTR law, we handled no more than five tonnes per yeartion.

at any one factory.
In order to prevent pollution from chemical substances, TEL car-ries out strict controls that take the environment and safety into account at every stage, from the initial decision to introduce a chemi-

Data on Substances Controlled under the PRTR Law
Official number

Name of Class 1 chemical(Units: tonnes)
Amount handled

162-amino ethanol

0.52

43

Ethylene glycol

1.50

Before introducing a new chemical, each plant obtains MSDS*44Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether

0.12

information and evaluates the risk of hazard and then makes a deci-63

Xylene0.18

172

N,N-dimethylformamide

0.29

207

Copper salts (water-soluble, except complex salts)

0.19

measures to ensure that no chemical leaks occur, and make an ef-

227

Toluene0.62

fort to find alternatives for and reduce the use of hazardous chemi-

283

Hydrogen fluoride and its water-soluble salts

2.47

cal, to its eventual disposal.

sion about whether or not to handle the chemical. We also takecals in products.

Clarifying the Chemicals Contained in Products

MSDS Database Management

In response to a number of international and domestic laws,

We are sharing MSDS safety information on all chemicals newly

regulations and related trends, TEL is working to clarify which chemi-introduced at any plant by using a database hosted on TEL's intranet.

cals should be prohibited from use in products, such as asbestos,Because information searches can be conducted from all plants, any

mercury and cadmium, and which chemicals should be reduced,

user can determine the toxicity and hazard level for each individualsuch as lead and PVCs. Our goal is to properly manage the chemicalchemical, and make a decision on whether or not to use it.

substances contained in products.
We are also applying our chemical management experience togreen procurement, and improving efforts to select and determine
the amount of chemicals that should be controlled, and that are contained in the products we purchase.

Responses to the PRTR Law*
Japan's PRTR Law requires that companies report emissions
and transfers to products and wastes of Class 1 substances (354chemical groups in total) for those handled in amounts of 5 tonnes ormore during the first two years of the law's enforcement, beginningin 2001. TEL, however, is controlling and determining quantities of
0.1 tonne or more- smaller amounts than those required to be repor-

Screenshot of an intranet search

ted to the government. In other words, our restrictions are more
stringent than those required by law.

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): Material information used to determine accurately the toxicity and proper handling of chemical substances.
PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register): A framework for overseeing chemical substances that may be hazardous to ecosystems
and human health, which is employed to identify and compile data, and report on the amount of chemicals used, the amount released
into the environment, and the amount contained in wastes transferred off-site.

17TOKYO ELECTRONENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2002

Management of PCBs

To illustrate the Saga Plant initiative, the graphs below compare

The Law Concerning Special Measure against PCB waste wasthe consumption of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in fiscal 2000

enacted on June 15, 2001, and went into effect on July 15 of theand 2001.For both chemicals, the amounts used declined from fiscal

same year.

2000. We will continue to strive to minimize the amounts of chemi-This law requires Japan's national and prefectural governments

cals used and their environmental burdens.

to develop plans for handling PCBs in order to dispose of PCB waste,
and to undertake efforts to secure the proper infrastructure to dispose of PCBs, including the construction of treatment facilities. The
law also makes it mandatory for private entities that are storing PCB
waste to dispose of it within 15 years of the date the law went into
effect, and to report to the prefectural government every fiscal year

Consumption of Ammonia(kg)

Cumulative

ActualCumulative annual target(max.)

on the PCBs being stored and the status of disposal.
TEL is carrying out stringent control of PCBs in storage, and as

945

soon as a suitable treatment

945

810

method is available, will dispose

693
657

of these wastes.
540

The following table shows432

the status of storage and control

396
Monthly target(max.)

270of equipment containing PCBs.

198

PCB storage building

Storage and Control of Equipment Containing
PCBs (in Japan)-Tokyo Electron Group
ItemNumber in storage

Transformers

2Condenser

1126
54126
7272

10872

117

0Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2001* Monthly maximum target is 105 kg.

117

135Jan2002

Feb3636
OctNov

Dec0MarConsumption of Hydrogen Peroxide(kg)

ActualCumulative
Cumulative annual target(max.)

Activities by Each Plant

2,200

The types and amounts of chemicals used are different for each

2,200

2,040
1,800

plant. Because of this, each plant is conducting its own controls
1,700

based on its actual use of chemical substances, including determin-1,540
1,300ing which substances to reduce and what the reduction targets

1,200

should be.

940

A subcommittee at the Saga Plant has created an organizational660

system for the proper management of chemical substances. Thissystem, which enables the plant to maintain the proper levels ofchemical stocks and supplies, was established during fiscal 1998
and continues today.

Monthly target(max.)

440
140
0300

220

280

260

240
100

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2001* Monthly maximum target is 230 kg.

Oct160
Nov

240
100
Dec

Jan
2002

160Feb0Mar

PRTR Law: Law Concerning Reporting, etc., of Release of Specific Chemical Substances to the Environment and Promotion of the
Improvement of their Management

TOKYO ELECTRONENVIRONMENTAL REPORT 2002

18