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

Toshiba Info

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4 out of 18
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Brand Owner: Toshiba Group
Head Office: Tokyo, Japan
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Televisions, TV's, Computers, Notebooks, Audio, Video, (Mobile) Phones, Cameras, Camcorders, Home Appliances, Game Consoles, Printers, Copiers
Free Tags: Laptop, projector, TV, flat screen, HD, mobile phone, cell, printer, copier

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Last Updated: 21 June 2011
Last Verified: 22 June 2011

Toshiba 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?	Toshiba supports the goal of mandatory cuts of at least 50 % by 2050.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	Toshiba discloses the percentage of carbon/GHG emissions reduced, where applicable, but does not provide a carbon footprint (see e.g. 18).	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?	Toshiba aims to reduce the emissions of six GHGs covered by the Kyoto Protocol by 36% by 2010 and by 38% by 2012, compared to the 2000 level (see page 20).	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	Toshiba reduced energy-derived CO2 emissions by 47% and CO2 emissions associated with product logistics by 47% between 1990 and 2009. However, it is unclear whether 10% reduction has been achieved in the last 5 years.	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?	Most Toshiba products are Energy Star rated, Energy Star standards are met in all television models and major laptop computers. Toshiba's two top product series have received the latest Energy Star Tier Two rating. However, it is unclear if all new products meet the requirements.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 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?	Toshiba is promoting measures to replace 'B-rank' substances with substitutes, if they are available in terms of mass production & cost efficiency & can reduce environmental impacts without affecting product functions, performance and quality. These measures will be extended to PVCs and BFRs, which are already eliminated from notebook PCs (p36).	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	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?	Beryllium, antimony and phthalates are included in the 'B-rank' substances as mentioned in environmental policy question 1. See remark for that question.	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?	Toshiba clearly supports IPR.	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?	Toshiba aims to increase the volume of end-of-life products recycled by 180% compared to the 2001 level by 2012. However, it is not mentioned whether the take-back and recycling services are offered for free or not.	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?	In 2009, 800 tons of recycled plastic materials were used for the base plates of washing machines, multifunctional peripherals, TVs, air conditioners, notebook PCs and other products. It plans to use recycled materials for a wider range of products in the future. However, it is unclear what percentage of the total volume of plastic this represnts.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 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 in Toshiba Procurement Policy (see page 2).	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?	1. Not mentioned; 2. Not specified; 3. No, mentioning of appropriate wage, not living wage (see page 2).	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 is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 2).	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?	Toshiba has not published a list of direct suppliers.	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?	Toshiba is a member of BSR (see page 4), but information about a code of conduct, monitoring/auditing, and reporting on audit results was not found on the BSR website, so membership of this organisation is not counted as a 'yes'.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Toshiba conducts annual suppliers audits, but no detailed results have been published.	SOURCE