Environmental Leader

Fujitsu Microelectronics Group has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions (excluding CO2) by 22 percent in fiscal year 2008 thanks to the installation of PFC gas removal systems at both new and existing manufacturing lines and the conversion of PFC gases to gases with lower emissions potential, according to the company’s 2009 Environmental Report (PDF).

In December last year, Fujitsu launched its Green Policy Innovation project that is expected to help the company reduce its CO2 emissions by 15 million tons over four years.

The semiconductor company’s “green” factories are also reducing emissions from volatile organic compounds (VOC) and cutting sludge waste emissions with the introduction of a Fluorine Recovery and Reuse System.

The semiconductor group also reduced waste generation by 22 percent in FY2008, which the company attributes to converting plastic and acid waste into resources as well as significant market changes.

However, group-wide VOC emissions totaled 150 tons, increasing 4 percent compared to the previous fiscal year. The company plans to reduce its VOC emissions in FY2009 by increasing the efficiency of organic solvent collection equipment and promoting the appropriate management of VOC substances.

A big part of Fujitsu’s environmental strategy is to reduce the company’s environmental impact across the entire lifecycle of its products through the development and design of low-power ICs, meeting green procurement standards for materials and implementing green processes that for example reduce the amount of chemicals and gas as well as energy used in the manufacturing processes. Everything is reviewed from product development all the way through to distribution and customer usage.

As an example, all new product designs must undergo a Green Product Assessment before development to evaluate factors such as energy efficiency and chemical suitability. Only when the assessment reaches a score of 90 or higher does development begin, says Fujitsu.

In the area of packaging, Fujitsu reuses its shipping trays and uses plant-based resins in its tape. The company also uses specialized containers to reduce the use of cardboard boxes in its packaging. In 2008, the company achieved a reuse rate of 50 percent.

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