Hitachi scores 4 out of 18 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Hitachi Info

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4 out of 18
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Brand Owner: Hitachi Ltd.
Head Office: Marunouchi-1, Chiyoda, Tokyo,
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Televisions, TV's, Computers, Notebooks, Audio, Video, Cameras, Camcorders, Home Appliances
Free Tags: PC, laptop, camcorder, television, TV, flat screen, LCD, plasma, projectors, air conditioner

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Last Updated: 15 March 2011
Last Verified: 15 March 2011

Hitachi Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 5


1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020?	Support for global mandatory cuts not found, only that 'emissions need to be cut further compared with the status quo' (see page 9).	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	Hitachi's carbon footprint is measured by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and has been reporting it anually since 2007.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	Hitachi has set out a goal to reduce carbon emissions with 30% by 2012. (see page 28)	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	"Hitachi reduced the levels of CO2 emissions from their corporate activities by 21 percent in Japan (from fiscal 1990 levels) and by 5 percent outside of Japan (per unit of production, compared with fiscal 2003 levels) (Page 13)". However, this only reperesent a overall reduction of 8%.	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?	Some of Hitachi's products comply with the Energy Star standard, but the company does not show a clear overview of their products that meet the requirements.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 7


1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Hitachi is still using PVC and BFR. Hitachi has classified these as "Substances that are not restricted for inclusion in procured products but for which monitoring and control are required by domestic or foreign regulations, or for which special consideration for recycling or appropriate disposal is required" (Page 25)	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?	Hitachi has not yet eliminated these chemical suspects. Hitachi has classified them as "Substances that are not restricted for inclusion in procured products but for which monitoring and control are required…" (Page 25)	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Hitachi has not yet eliminated these chemical suspects. Hitachi has classified them as "Substances that are not restricted for inclusion in procured products but for which monitoring and control are required…" (Page 25)	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products?	See remark for environmental policy question 3.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling?	It is not clear wether Hitachi support the IPR principle, only a remark about WEEE.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold?	Hitachi does not mention any information as to wether the provide a free and easy take back and recycle service for its discarded products.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025?	Hitachi does not disclose information or targets for their use of recycled plastics.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 out of 6


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	All standards are mentioned (see chapter 1,4,5)	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	Standard 1 not found. Working hours and wages only related to national laws. Living wage not mentioned (see page 10).	SOURCE
3. Does this CoC include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining mentioned, but no reference to alternative measures where law prohibits (see page 10).	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Hitachi does publish a list of the key partner suppliers, but it does not clearly show wether they collectively contribute to more than 90% of their purchase volume.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	Member of the United Nations Global Compact since February 2009. (page 17)	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Results given seem to be from surveys, not audits.	SOURCE