Environmental Issues

Since its inception, Fujitsu has treated environmental problems as one of its most important management issues based on our philosophy of "building in harmony with the environment". To more clearly conceptualize this philosophy and with the aim of achieving a sustainable society in all our business activities from product research
and development through to recycling and disposal, Fujitsu is promoting the following global environmental protection policies based on our "everything green" motto.

• Development of green products
• Product recycling measures
• Measures against global warming
• Zero emissions of waste material
• Minimizing disposal of chemical substances
• Adoption of overseas standards
  (RoHS: European directive on the use of hazardous substances; ELV: EU directive on end-of-life vehicles)

♠ Achieving zero emissions of waste material

Fujitsu's wafer processing facilities are the first in Japan to achieve zero emissions in the form of "100% reuse of waste material with no waste disposed offsite".
Dealing with the large volumes of waste material that were produced in the past had become a management priority in the wafer processing stage of semiconductor manufacturing. However, zero emissions have been achieved by promoting ways of
converting waste into reusable materials. Examples include the recycling of waste sulfuric acid by introducing recycling equipment and the conversion of the sludge produced by waste water treatment into cement material. Fujitsu has achieved zero emissions at 13 sites in Japan (factories and research centers) and plans to continue promoting zero emissions including in-group companies.

Sulfuric acid recycling equipment

♠ Working towards Green processes

Fujitsu has commenced activities to reduce the environmental load and cut costs(working towards green processes) by identifying the resources (chemicals, gas, water, and energy) used by each production line in the wafer processing stage of semiconductor manufacturing and then reducing the quantities used. The methodology is to use Fujitsu's proprietary management techniques to identify materials that can effectively be reduced from the perspective of both cost reduction and environmentalrisk, review the quantities used by each line, and then reduce the quantities of hydrocarbon fuels, electricity, and raw materials used by each process. From a management perspective, this approach has the advantage that reductions in production cost can be expected.

♠ Use of biodegradable plastic ("GreenPla®") packagingmaterial that is considerate to the environment

The demand for chips packaged in tapes has expanded in recent years due to customers wanting to mount LSIs at higher speeds. However, this has caused a problem with the large volume of waste tape that remains after the mounting process. Fujitsu has developed an anti-static embossed tape for LSIs that is strong and has high dimensional accuracy. This "GreenPlaR" tape is made from corn and is used for
packaging major products such as mobile phone LSIs.
Because GreenPla R is produced from plant material, total energy consumption from production to disposal is reduced and the product contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Also, the material does not result in the emission of any harmful substances such as dioxins when it is incinerated. Even if the material is disposed of, like paper, it will decompose back to nature by the action of bacteria.
Fujitsu will continue into the future its efforts to reduce the burden its activities place on the environment by using packaging materials such as embossed tape made from GreenPla R, and by working actively to develop green products that consider how to allow recycling and that minimize resource and energy use, and in doing so provide products and services with even more added value.

From "corn" to embossed tape for mounting components

Note: "GreenPla" is a registered trademark of the Biodegradable

♠ LSI packaging that is considerate to the environment

Making electronic products lead free was an important topic raised by the global environmental assessment. Lead is widely used in the solder in electronic products. However, there is a problem with the lead contaminating groundwater when the
electronic product is disposed of in a landfill. Fujitsu is working to move quickly to "lead-free solder" and has already completed development for making LSI products lead free. Also there is concern about the effect on people of the methods used to dispose of
Antimony compounds and the halogen fire retardants used to make plastic non-flammable. However, Fujitsu has started to use plastics in its LSI products
that do not contain these materials.