| Life Cycle Stages |
The environmental burden is disclosed for the 5 stages of a copier's life cycle: front-end, manufacturing, transportation/collection, use, and recycling/disposal.
| Front-end |
Upstream processes comprise supplying raw materials, parts and semi-manufactured parts. The stage ends when they are delivered to the next stage of production. |
| Manufacturing |
From component processing to assembly of the products in the factory. |
| Transportation (Collection) |
Delivery of products from the factory to the customer. Because used products are collected at the same time that the new products are delivered, the collection process is included in this stage. |
| Use and maintenance |
The stage when the copiers are being used by customers. In addition to the electricity consumed in operating the copiers, the environmental burden resulting from consumable supplies--from their manufacture to disposal--and from the fuel consumption of the service vehicles during maintenance are considered at this stage. |
| Recycling and disposal |
The processes of collection, separation, and dismantling of used products. The environmental burden after the products are handed over to outside contractors is not considered at this stage. |
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| Environmental Burden Items (Evaluation Items) |
Evaluation items for the environmental burden include resources that are acquired from the natural environment before use (input), and substances emitted to the air, soil and water (output).
The resources include energy resources (electricity, fossil fuels and other energy forms), material resources (iron, plastic and other electrical parts, solvents, packaging materials, and others) and water resources (city water, industrial water, and groundwater).
Emissions and drainage include:
(1) Emissions and drainage to the air, water and soil
Substances include greenhouse gases, acidification gases, ozone depleting substances, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and BOD and COD.
(2) Recovered resources and waste
With regard to (1) above, hazardous substances
listed in the PRTR are classified as PRTR substances, and their gross weights are given in the table. The information on kinds and amounts of emitted substances is shown separately. (Please click on the figure in the table.) |
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| (Outline of Calculation Method for Quantitative Data) |
In the factory, various products are manufactured simultaneously. In order to calculate the figures for the above items per unit product, we use proportional distribution, according to the product output volumes, sales, manufacturing man-hours, and other data.
The amounts of carbon dioxide, NOx and SOx emitted to the air during electricity generation are calculated on the basis of the "International Cooperative Investigation of Energy Use Rationalization Method, March, 1998, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization".
CO2 emissions to the air during the combustion of fossil fuels are calculated on the basis of carbon content, when an accurate figure is available from the component test table. When it is not available, the calculation is performed based on the "Environmental Activity Evaluation Program, September 1996, Environment Agency".
Only processes that are directly related to product manufacturing are taken into account. The environmental burden due to the non-manufacturing processes, such as activities in the research and development section, the production and disposal of company facilities and equipment, and the maintenance and management of the labor force are not included.
Environmental impact of waste materials after they are delivered to the contractor is not included.
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