The LCP is used to devise concepts regarding environmentally conscious products or ECPs at the planning stage. The ECP development system is structured and focuses on the 3R conscious design, energy-saving design and design for reducing environmental impact substances.

Life Cycle Planning or LCP

LCP is a technique for formulating a concept of ECP at the planning stage, which satisfies the quality and cost requirements, while at the same time decisively reducing environmental impacts throughout the life cycle. Effective utilization of data obtained by Life Cycle Assessment or LCA and Quality Function Development or QFD contributes to the determination of environmental specifications, taking the product life cycle into consideration, and identification of ideas for improving upgradeability, maintainability, reusability and recyclability at the parts level.

TOSHIBA TEC Corporation has further advanced the LCP method in the planning of an environmentally conscious vacuum cleaner, and applied the LCP method to POS terminals. The POS terminal M-7000 has been optimized while being comprised from the 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) points of view based on LCP analytical results.

Example of the Environmentally Conscious Design Concept formulated by LCP (POS Terminal M-7000)

* Example of the Environmentally Conscious Design Concept formulated by LCP (547 KB - PDF version)

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Environmental Design Review

At the product-planning stage, the Design Review is conducted from all angles. The in-house standards make it obligatory for related departments to conduct the Environmental Design Review at the planning stage.

The Environmental Design Review includes "Compliance with laws and regulations," "Environmental Assessment on Products," "Response to Environmental Labels," "LCA Implementation and Factor Calculation" and "Response to Environmental Design Guide" shown in the diagram. The "Environmental Assessment on Products" is used to assess the degree of achievement on the Environmental Action Plan, responses to the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and energy conservation, progress regarding reduction in environment-related substances, and confirmation of compliance with the ECP Standards. The Environmental Design Review is conducted at each stage of planning, design, prototype production and mass production trial. For instance, basic environmental design specifications are reviewed, compliance with laws and regulations and response to various environmental labels are specifically defined at the planning stage. Compliance and compatibility with eco targets and confirmation of compliance are verified at the design stage or later. Based on technological and competitor trends, "eco targets" are set with the highest level of environmental performance in the industry at the time of product release.

Reduction of Environmental Impacts

Life Cycle Planning or LCP

Example of the Environmentally Conscious Design Concept formulated by LCP (POS Terminal M-7000)

Environmental Design Review

Reduction of Chemical Substances

Life Cycle Assessment or LCA

List of Products Using Recycled Plastics

List of Products Using Plant-based Plastics

List of Products Using Halogen-free or Plastics for Printed Circuit Boards