Panasonic Holdings Corporation

Policy

Policy

Since its establishment, the Panasonic Group has been actively working on a wide range of environmental issues, starting with the pollution problems of the 1970s, under its management philosophy of contributing to the sound development of society. We formulated our Environmental Control Policy (Matsushita Environmental Charter) in 1991 to share our approach to environmental issues that have started spreading on a global scale. In 1993, we introduced our Environmental Statement as a step to serving society as a public entity, announcing our basic stance and increasing our activities globally.

We have announced our current Environmental Policy, both within the Group and to society at large, alongside our Environmental Statement, Environmental Action Guidelines (announced in 2013 as a public statement of our concrete activities; see following page) and our mid-term to long-term Environmental Action Plan. We look forward to each and every employee in the Group approaching environmental issues as laid out in this Policy and at the same time utilizing their technological strengths to create values that preserve and improve the environment. We expect these efforts to help the whole Group with its continuing development. In support of this, it is vital that we gain the understanding and support of our business partners and society at large. We are committed to environmental sustainability management through further support and cooperation with our stakeholders.

Environmental
Control Policy
(1991)

  • Applied by all business sites worldwide
  • Original text in English
    (Japanese text is a translated version)
  • There are punitive clauses

Environmental Statement
(1993)

Fully aware that humankind has a special responsibility to

respect and preserve the delicate balance of nature,

we at Panasonic acknowledge our obligation to maintain

and nurture the ecology of this planet. Accordingly,

we pledge ourselves to the prudent, sustainable use of

the earth's resources and the protection of the natural

environment while we strive to fulfill our corporate mission of contributing to enhanced prosperity for all.

A clear declaration of the principles described in our Environmental Control Policy, reflecting the thoughts and vision of our founder, Konosuke Matsushita.

In implementing effective environmental sustainability management, companies must share the vision based on the Control Policy, develop an action plan that defines KPIs*1 as key target issues to achieve the goal and fully implement the PDCA cycle*2.

In terms of the vision, we announced the Matsushita Electric Industrial Group Environmental Vision in 2001. In 2017, we announced Panasonic Environment Vision 2050, which is designed to contribute to the realization of a society in which people are able to live in comfort with clean energy. In 2022, we announced our long-term environmental vision, Panasonic GREEN IMPACT (PGI).

In face of the growing need to address the impact of issues such as resources depletion and waste contamination for our customers, society and our business activities, we announced a Circular Economy (CE) Group Policy (see following page) to serve as the foundation of business management, to maintain and improve the value created by resources and to build an economy and society founded on resource recycling. The policy will be employed in identifying CE issues related to the distinctive characteristics of each business and in planning and implementing strategies and action plans.

Action plans so far introduced have been Green Plan 2010, our first long-term environmental action plan introduced in 2001, and Green Plan 2018, announced in 2010. These plans targeted important issues, focusing chiefly on CO2 reduction and resource recycling. Green Plan 2018 was revised in 2013 in response to revisions to our management policy. Later in 2016, it was revised once again amid the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP 21*3 to reflect the rising importance of CO2 reductions and changes in our portfolio, including the expansion of our automotive and B2B businesses.

In 2019, we announced Green Plan 2021, which emphasizes issues linked to CO2 reduction and resource recycling and synchronizes with our mid-term business plan. Timed to match the announcement of PGI in 2022, we established GREEN IMPACT PLAN 2024, our environmental action plan linked to our mid-term to long-term business strategy.

*1 KPI (key performance indicator): An indicator used by organizations for quantitative evaluation of processes and actions taken to achieve their respective goals.
*2 Method based on the framework, aimed at improving business operations and qualitative advancement, consisting of the four steps: Plan (develop a plan), Do (take action), Check (evaluate) and Action (make improvements) repeated in a cycle for continuous improvements.
*3 The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Environmental Policy

Environmental Statement (1993)

Environmental Action Guideline (2013)

Toward achieving a sustainable society, we will strive to develop our business through the creation of environmental value.

For this purpose, we will address environmental challenges through our business activities and will expand our environmental initiatives based on collaboration with stakeholders.

(1) Initiatives to address environmental challenges

  • - We will reduce CO2 emissions through production activities and products/services.
  • - We will work to efficiently use resources by pursuing recycling-oriented manufacturing.
  • - We will conserve water resources through efficient use of water and prevention of contamination.
  • - We will reduce the impact of chemical substances on human health and the environment.
  • - We will consider and conserve biodiversity.

(2) Initiatives based on collaboration with stakeholders

  • - We will provide products and services that create environmental value for customers with our technological strengths.
  • - We will expand our environmental contributions with our partner companies.
  • - We will deepen communications with local communities and work as a team to address environmental challenges.

Environmental Action Plan

Environmental action plan "GREEN IMPACT PLAN 2024" to realize Panasonic GREEN IMPACT

Circular Economy Group Policy (2023)

The Panasonic GREEN IMPACT is the long-term vision of the Group,

reflecting our sincere determination to address global environmental issues and contribute to solving them through the impact of our business actions.

Acknowledging the contribution of resource efficiency to decarbonization as well as a necessity for decreasing resource consumption due to the earth's limited natural resources,

we establish this Panasonic Group-wide Circular Economy Policy as a contribution to achieving a sustainable society.

Circular Economy describes an economic system aiming for the most efficient use of material resources along the product lifecycle. Within the frame of this policy,

Panasonic Group Companies define their dedicated approaches, targets, and individual action plans based on the following circularity principles:

  1. (1) Maximize the product lifetime and maintain the material value with a focus on circular business models and product design, extended servicing, as well as through further enhancing recycling activities.
  1. (2) Minimize the use of materials and extend the usage of recycled and renewable materials.
  2. (3) Make a joint approach with customers and partners for establishing circularity-oriented business operations, information sharing, and product usage options.

By establishing this circular economy policy, we will promote the transition of our business from linear to circular as part of our green transformation (GX) activities inside and outside Panasonic.