Murata is promoting eco-friendly design, with an emphasis on reducing regulated chemical substances contained in products, cutting electricity consumption and utilizing resources effectively through downsizing.
Since November 2004, we have implemented a product assessment system throughout the Group to evaluate the environmental impact of products. This system extends beyond the development stage, spanning preproduction prototyping and market introduction to confirm that Murata's products are environmentally considerate.
About Lifecycle
Assessment (LCA)
Lifecycle assessment is a method of quantitatively assessing all the environmental influences imparted by a product throughout its lifecycle, from resource extraction through manufacturing, sales, use and disposal.
In addition to product assessments, Murata is focusing on lowering the environmental burden of its products throughout their lifecycles. In 1995, Murata established its LCA Subcommittee, and in 1999 introduced LCA into its R&D process. Through this evaluation method, CO2 emissions, consumption of principal raw materials and other data are analyzed for representative products. LCA is being applied to Murata's own production facilities, which are designed in-house, in addition to marketed products.
During fiscal 2006, we constructed a database of CO2 emissions by materials, which will effectively simplify LCA data calculations.
| Classification |
Item |
| Product |
Controlled substances |
| Downsizing |
| Reduction of main raw materials |
| Power conservation |
Production
process |
Controlled substances |
| Energy consumption reduction |
| Electricity and waste reduction |
Packaging
and packing |
Controlled substances |
| Electricity and waste reduction |
Handling Products
Not Covered by RoHS
For regions and applications not covered by the RoHS directive, we operate a framework of autonomous restraint whereby we do not endorse production of manufacture and sales of non-RoHS-compliant products without management-level clearance.
Electrical components necessarily contain substances with the potential to damage the human body and the environment. Murata is striving to reduce or eliminate environmentally hazardous chemical substances, including substances not prohibited by laws and regulations.
During fiscal 2006, we promoted conversion to alternative substances and developed alternative technologies:
1. To eliminate substances stipulated under the RoHS directive in Europe
2. To reduce usage of halogenated flame retardants by 20% from fiscal 2003 levels
As a result of these endeavors, in May 2006 Murata completed its responses to the RoHS directive in Europe for all products other than RoHS-specified exceptions. In addition, we cut usage of halogenated flame retardants by more than 30%.
Murata has established voluntary regulations for chemical substances contained in products that are deemed to have high environmental impact (product regulation substances). We are taking measures to prohibit, reduce or prepare to reduce usage of these substances.
| Rank |
Target substance group |
| Prohibition | Prohibit use | Asbestos | Azo compounds |
| Short-chained chlorinated paraffin (SCCP) |
Cadmium and its compounds |
| Metallic carbonyls |
Metallic nickel |
| Hexavalent chromium compounds |
Inorganic cyanide compounds |
| Acrylonitriles |
Mercury and its compounds |
| Dioxin/Dibenzofuran |
Thallium and its compounds |
| Lead and its compounds (copper alloy with more than 4% lead content, steel with more than 0.35% lead content, and aluminum with more than 0.4% lead content) |
| PBBs |
PBDEs |
Chlorine-based flame retardants
Arsenic and its compounds (excluding semiconductors) |
| Beryllium and its compounds (for use in ceramics) |
| Benzene |
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) |
| Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (Cl ≥ 3) |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
Formaldehydes |
| Organotin compounds |
Organophosphorus compounds |
| Heavy metals in packaging materials (Cd, Cr6+, Hg. Pb) |
Red phosphorus and red-phosphorus-based flame retardants |
| Reduction | Systematically reduce use |
Lead and its compounds (for use in some ceramics, solder, etc.) |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and mixtures containing PVC, cobalt chloride packaging materials |
| Preparation for reduction | Control and voluntarily prepare to reduce use | Chlorinated paraffins | Antimonous oxides |
| Ethylene glycol ethers and their acetates |
| Xylene |
Cobalt and its compounds |
| Bromine-based flame retardants |
Selenium and its compounds |
| Tellurium and its compounds |
Toluene |
| Lead and its compounds (for use in some ceramics, glass, alloys, etc.) |
| Arsenic and its compounds (for use in semiconductors only) |
| Organocyanide compounds |
|
| Beryllium and its compounds (for use other than in ceramics) |
| Foaming polystyrene packaging materials |
One of Murata's measures to ensure correct management of environmentally hazardous substances is the compilation of a database of quantitative information on the constitutive substances contained in its products.
This database, which confirms that specific legally stipulated environmentally hazardous substances are not present in Murata products, facilitates timely provision of data to customers and public authorities.
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