Product-related Initiatives for the Environment Back Number (2019)
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Basic Approach
The MinebeaMitsumi Group declares in its Basic CSR Policy that it will contribute to global environmental sustainability and sustainable human development through stable supply and making reliable products with low energy consumption widely available.
Since its products are utilized in many different kinds of end-products, the Group believes that it is important to consider environmental contributions throughout the product life cycle. This responsibility extends from ensuring that its products (parts) are free of materials hazardous to the environment, energy-efficiency, resource-efficiency, and long-life.
Creating environmentally friendly products is set in the Group's materialities (priority issues).
Please refer Environmental Management for information regarding MinebeaMitsumi Green Products Certification Program
MinebeaMitsumi Group Environmentally Friendly Products
Approximately 40% of global electric power is used by motors, while another 25% is accounted for by lighting. The MinebeaMitsumi Group believes that increasing the performance and energy efficiency of these products can have a substantial impact on reducing energy consumption, so we strive to enhance performance and quality.
The products that the Group produces and sells are environmentally conscious. This means that they satisfy various countries' environmental laws and customers' environmental requirements from the development and design stage as well as undergoing voluntary product chemical substance evaluations and product assessments.
Starting in FY2019, the Group is organizing and announcing these developed products as MinebeaMitsumi Green products.
MS-V7 SALIOT LED Spotlight (with tracking function)
MinebeaMitsumi created a stir in the lighting industry with its ultra-thin lenses for LED lighting using ultra-thin optical guide plate technology. Moreover, SALIOT combines the optical technologies represented by these ultra-thin lenses with motors, power supplies, wireless functions, and multiple different products and technologies.
SALIOT reduces wasted light with narrow light distribution and a glareless1 design, cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 66% compared to earlier products (products of other companies2).
Moreover, weight has been reduced by 34.4% by replacing aluminum die cast parts with pressed metal and resin components and making other changes. Miniaturization of the circuit board as a result of lower power consumption and other advancements make possible a product that is 38.9% more compact.
- Elimination of unequal light intensity distribution.
- General products of other companies when under equivalent ceiling height and downright illumination intensity conditions.
MS-V7 SALIOT LED Spotlight
(with tracking function)
High-precision, High-quality Bearings
Bearings enable things to move freely and rotate smoothly, enhance performance, save power, contribute to making products with bearings smaller and extend their lives, and offer various other benefits. Bearings are fundamental products that have become essential for humankind.
The MinebeaMitsumi Group boasts world-leading market shares across the entire market from miniature and small diameter ball bearings with diameters of 22 mm and less to rod end and spherical bearings and roller bearings used in aircraft.
These high-precision and high-quality bearings are used in many common products essential for our lives such as consumer electronics, information and communications equipment, and automobiles. They contribute to all environmental aspects of these products including high precision, energy savings, reduced resource use, and longer lives.
As an example, MinebeaMitsumi bearings used inside fan motors could reduce CO2 emission for each product by approximately 7.9% when compared to existing products. When this reduction rate is multiplied by the number produced, around 2,479,518 kg of CO2 emissions can be expected to have been reduced.
According to Japan Center for Climate Change Actions (JCCCA), per household CO2 emission in Japan for FY2016 was approximately 4,520 kg. When compared with this value, it can be assumed that MinebeaMitsumi's small ball bearing products had been able to contribute toward CO2 emission reduction by around that for 550 households.
Japan Center for Climate Change Actions
Ball bearings
Automotive Backlights
The MinebeaMitsumi Group has been developing, producing, and selling light emitting diode (LED) backlight units—used for illuminating liquid crystal displays of smartphones and tablets from behind—for many years.
By applying this product technology developed for smartphones and tablets in automotive backlights, it was possible to reduce CO2 emission per product by approximately 16.7% when compared to existing products. When this reduction rate is multiplied by the number produced, around 8,479,952 kg of CO2 emissions can be expected to have been reduced.
When this value is compared with the per household CO2 emission in Japan for FY2016 according to Japan Center for Climate Change Actions (JCCCA), it can be assumed that MinebeaMitsumi's automotive backlights had been able to contribute toward CO2 emission reduction by around that for 1,880 households.
Automotive backlight
HDD Spindle motors
Hard disk drive (HDD) spindle motors are what cause the disks in HDDs to rotate. They affect HDD performance, such as capacity and processing speed. Accordingly, these motors are required to meet extremely high precision requirements in terms of rotational speed, non-repeatable runout (NRRO), and other aspects.
As an example, HDD spindle motors for helium sealed drives have high reliability, and at the same time, could reduce electricity consumption by approximately 10% (8.4% CO2 emission) for each motor compared to previous generations. When this reduction rate is multiplied by the number produced, around 6,011,649 kg of CO2 emissions can be expected to have been reduced.
When this value is compared with the per household CO2 emission in Japan for FY2016 according to Japan Center for Climate Change Actions (JCCCA), it can be assumed that MinebeaMitsumi's HDD spindle motor products had been able to contribute toward CO2 emission reduction by around that for 1,330 households.
HDD Spindle motors
AC Adaptors for Domestic Information Terminals (Smart Phones)
We reviewed the internal structures and circuit formats of MinebeaMitsumi AC adaptors for domestic information terminals to make them smaller, higher capacity, and higher efficiency compared to earlier products.
Assuming that a charger is used for charging for three hours and is in standby for 21 hours each day over the course of a year (365 days), CO2 emissions have been reduced by approximately 9.7% compared to earlier products.
An AC adaptor
Management of Environmental Impact Materials Included in Products
The MinebeaMitsumi Group has issued the standards and regulations on chemical substances in products requiring suppliers to supply products (raw materials and parts) free of hazardous substances along with data and documentation verifying their products' safety. We also conduct our own verification tests of suppliers' products using XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometers) to ensure the products are free of hazardous materials subject to RoHS regulations.
Management methods for chemical substances contained in products
- Note 1. (M)SDS ((Material) Safety Data Sheet):
A data sheet covering information required for safe handling of chemical substances (ingredients, characteristics, handling methods, and emergency coping methods). - Note 2. ChemSHERPA: A data sheet recommended by JAMP (Joint Article Management Promotion Consortium) to communicate information of toxic chemicals incorporated in chemical substances and compounds.
Future Issues and Goals
The MinebeaMitsumi Group introduced the MinebeaMitsumi Green Products Certification Program on a full scale in FY2019. We will accurately discern the specified needs of society and develop new products that contribute to safety, energy saving, low resource use, and longer product lives.
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