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Midterm Environmental Action Plan

A milestone toward 2020

The Brother Group has attained almost all the targets set in the Brother Group 2010 Midterm Environmental Action Plan (2008–2010). As a next step, the Brother Group 2015 Midterm Environmental Action Plan (2011–2015) has been drawn up. This plan sets ambitious targets in respective fields to encourage the creation of eco-conscious products, reduction in environmental impact attributed to business operations, compliance with laws and regulations in respective countries, and environmental and social contribution activities, among others, to help build a sustainable society under the slogan of "Brother Earth."
In particular, in terms of CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming, the action plan serves as a milestone for achieving the midterm target of "cutting total CO2 emissions by 30% from FY1990 (November 21, 1989-November 20, 1990) levels at eight business sites in Japan, and cutting CO2 emissions by 20% (per unit of sales) from FY2006 (April 1, 2006-March 31, 2007) levels at manufacturing facilities outside Japan, by FY2020." The targets for business sites in and outside Japan include reducing CO2 emissions by 1% per annum (per unit of sales) and attaining industry-leading energy-efficient products.
By achieving the action plan, the Brother Group will (1) fulfill corporate social responsibilities at ever higher levels through continuous commitment to environmental challenges, (2) raise environmental activities to among the best in the industry, and (3) instill a strong sense of pride so that employees feel truly proud to be part of the Brother Group.

Basic policy

1. Making a commitment to creating eco-conscious products, primarily focused on reducing energy consumption
2. Working on reducing CO2 emissions on a group basis

1. Quickly complying with laws and regulations across the world, eliminating opportunity losses, and expanding business opportunities

1. Disclosing environmental information, enhancing interactive communications with stakeholders, and increasing understanding

Environmental targets

1. Eco-conscious products

1-1 Actively acquiring environmental labels in respective countries and meeting new standards

(1) Ensuring that requests are met from sales companies to acquire Blue Angel, Eco Mark, ENERGY STAR, Nordic Swan, EPEAT, and China's Ten Circle Mark, etc.

(2) Complying with new standards (from 2012) of Blue Angel and Eco Mark, and continuously acquiring the labels

1-2 Improving the energy-saving performance of products

(1) Complying with various energy-saving standards including ENERGY STAR, Blue Angel, Eco Mark, China's Energy Label, and Japan's Top Runner Target Program Standards, etc. for all applicable products

(2) Achieving top-level energy-saving performance in the industry for respective categories

1-3 Complying with emissions (e.g., TVOCs, UFPs, noise) standards

(1) Complying with standards with sufficient margins

(2) Also complying with new standards including those of Blue Angel and new German law (UFP)

1-4 Increasing the percentage and volume of recycled materials used
Complying with an ever-broader range of standards for all applicable products

1-5 Increasing reusability and recyclability (both for main units and consumables)

(1) Promoting design for reducing man-hours required in the reuse process, and cutting the number of replacement parts and costs, in the consumables reuse business

(2) Expanding the scope of parts for which materials derived from a closed recycling system can be used

1-6 Reducing logistics costs and CO2 emissions by promoting optimization of packaging

(1) Both optimizing the packaging for reducing logistics costs and reducing CO2 emissions attributed to logistics
(2) Promoting the selection of appropriate materials and reduction in size and weight

2. Reducing environmental impact of business sites

For business sites in Japan and manufacturing facilities outside Japan, compliance with the Brother Group 2015 Midterm Environmental Action Plan will serve as the basis of activities.

Midterm targets

1. (1) Cutting total CO2 emissions by 30% from FY1990 levels at eight business sites in Japan by FY2020

1. (2) Cutting CO2 emissions by 20% (per unit of sales) from FY2006 levels at manufacturing facilities outside Japan (except the U.S.A.) by FY2020

2-1 Reducing CO2 emissions of the entire group
Reducing total CO2 emissions of the entire group (business sites in Japan, and manufacturing and sales facilities outside Japan, except logistics) by 1% per annum (per unit of sales)

2-2 Reducing CO2 emissions of business sites in Japan
Reducing CO2 emissions by 1% per annum; reducing total CO2 emissions by 25% from FY1990 levels by FY2015

2-3 Reducing CO2 emissions of manufacturing facilities outside Japan
Reducing CO2 emissions by 1% per annum (per unit of sales)

2-4 Reducing CO2 emissions in logistics
Setting emissions management standards, and reducing CO2 emissions by 1% per annum

2-5 Reducing water consumption at manufacturing facilities
Reducing water consumption by 5% from FY2010 (April 1, 2010-March 31, 2011) levels by FY2015 (per unit of sales)

2-6 Ensuring global management of environmental conservation activities at manufacturing facilities outside Japan
Building a framework for globally managing (i) compliance with environmental laws and regulations in countries where manufacturing facilities are based and (ii) proper waste treatment, etc

2-7 Acquiring ISO 14001 certifications
Acquiring ISO 14001 certifications at new manufacturing and sales facilities

3 Complying with laws, regulations and social trends

3-1 Globally complying with regulations on chemical substances

(1) Ensuring compliance with relevant laws (including REACH, RoHS, and TSCA) that regulate chemical substances contained in products

(2) Developing a strategy for managing chemical substances contained in products, and attaining industry-leading low levels by FY2015

3-2 Globally complying with energy-saving regulations on products
Complying with relevant energy-saving laws and regulations on products (including ErP, Russia's product regulations, South Korea's energy law, China's Energy Label, and Japan's energy saving law) with top-level energy-saving performance

3-3 Fulfilling manufacturers' broadening scope of responsibilities

(1) Increasing the accuracy of data submitted to the authorities to comply with WEEE/Packaging Directive, etc.

(2) Globally building a closed recycling system for products

(3) Globally expanding the consumables recycling system and aiming to develop the system to involve respective regional sales headquarters

3-4 Disclosing overall environmental information regarding products

(1) Globally disclosing information regarding products' environmental impact

(2) Disclosing product information in accordance with The Eco Declaration (ECMA370)

3-5 Using certified paper
Promoting the use of certified paper including FSC certified paper

3-6 Promoting green procurement

(1) Enhancing the auditing and education of suppliers, increasing eco awareness, and thereby ensuring legal compliance

(2) Building a framework for managing places of origin, illegal logging, recycling, etc. of paper used as packaging materials

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