Green Procurement
We are not only producers but consumers. A view that gives consideration to the environment is vital in our activities in procuring and purchasing materials and parts as an enterprise with harmony in society and nature.
Olympus defines green purchasing and green procurement as follows:
| Green Purchasing: | Purchasing of OA (office automation) equipment, office supplies, lighting fixtures and motor vehicles, produced to minimize their impact on the environment, for business use by our employees |
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| Green Procurement: | Purchasing of raw materials and parts, produced to minimize their impact on the environment, to be used for manufacturing Olympus products |
We have established these two categories because there are two different viewpoints - consumers' and producers'. We have environmentally conscious viewpoint in all of the purchasing activities that support Olympus' business activities.
Procurement Policy
Olympus procures various materials and parts from suppliers around the world for its various kind of products such as cameras and equipment for medical use. We have made efforts of encouraging green procurement aiming to carry out fair and impartial trade that contributes to the mutual development of all involved enterprises, standing on an equal footing with our suppliers, based on the Procurement Policy.
Control over chemical substances used for products
These days, environmentally-conscious products are ever more strongly desired for the purpose of environmental preservation and human health protection. Accordingly regulations on specific chemical substances are being tightened. Especially controlling specific chemical substances contained in plastics, metals, and other electronic parts used for appliances or electronic products will be tighter both inside and outside of Japan.
The RoHS, directive on the restriction of the use of certain chemical substances in electrical and electric equipment became effect force in Europe.
Green Procurement Activities
Olympus clearly shows our environmental concepts to all suppliers with which we have transactions by the Olympus Environmental Charter, Environmental Protection Declaration and Environmental Action Guideline for Environmental Protection Declaration, etc. . Olympus also requests suppliers their understanding and cooperation for conducting surveys regarding environmental measures and the Green Procurement Basic Information Survey and makes efforts to expand environmental activities together.
Green Procurement Basic Information Survey
Olympus has joined the Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI)(*1), and conducts a survey of controlled chemicals contained in materials and parts used for products according to the list of chemical substances that require a survey as determined by JGPSSI. We requests suppliers to analyze the chemical substances contained in materials and parts and provide information. We also conduct in-house analyses upon necessity.
Olympus collect the information through the green procurement basic information survey that is managed a dedicated database; the staff members responsible to design & development and purchase verifies the information . Selection and changes in materials, parts, and suppliers are done according to this verification, and we make great efforts to make sure the products do not contain any controlled-use chemical substances.
*1 Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI): Organization established for the purposes of reducing the labor involved in surveys and improving the quality of answers by making common lists of survey subjects and answer formats for green procurement surveys. At present, over 80 major domestic manufacturers participate in JGPSSI, and they are involved in consultations on the development of the green procurement survey method used in Japan into a common method worldwide.
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