Hitachi Chemical actively promote development of people-friendly and environmentally sound products.
Green Products
The Hitachi Chemical Group carries out green product assessments to verify the level of eco-friendliness of new products based on the Program for Assessing and Registering Green Products. We assess our products in each stage of product design, testing and mass production, based on checklists which consist of eight criteria. We designate products which meet these criteria as "green products."
■Assessment Criteria
Examples of Green Products
Eco-efficiency Indicators and Eco-factors
In 2005, the Hitachi Chemical Group introduced eco-efficiency indicators*1 in our environmental management, to measure the value that a product creates while reducing environmental impacts and resource consumption. We also utilize eco-factors*2 which show progress rate of eco-efficiency, to promote environmental conservation throughout our business.
- *1 Eco-efficiency Indicators:
- The eco-efficiency indicators are defined by the following methodology: 1) product value in terms of the product's function and useful life is quantified by a defined method; 2) two eco-efficiency indicators, the ratio of product value to emission of greenhouse gas during the entire product life cycle ("global warming prevention efficiency") and the ratio of product value to the volume of resources consumed or disposed of during the entire product life cycle ("resource efficiency"), are calculated.
- *2 Eco-factors:
- Comparing the eco-efficiency of a new product ("target product") against an existing product ("reference product"), the global warming prevention factor and the resource factor for these products are calculated.
|
An example of calculation
■Examples of Green Products
Electronics Related Products
| Halogen Free Multilayer Material <MCL> |
| "Green Multilayer material" "Type No. MCL-BE-67G(H)" has achieved the UL94V-0 level of flammability, by developing an original thermosetting resin that has excellent anti-flammability property without using any compounds which includes halogen, antimony, or red phosphorus. This material has good heat resistance and high elastic modulus at high temperature, and low CTE. So it is advantageous for the soldering process at the high temperature with lead-free solder, and it is suitable for high density interconnection technology." |
 |
| More |
| Photosensitive Dry Films for Printed Wiring Boards |
| Photosensitive Dry Film is a resist film and material affixed to copper-clad laminate to make the circuits used for printed wiring boards incorporated in PCs or mobile phones. It reduces cracks and disconnections and contributes to improvement in yield. The thinness of the product (25 micrometer or less) realizes resource and energy saving, and reduction of packaging materials is also pursued. |
 |
| More |
Advanced Performance Products
| GSO Single Crystal Scintillators |
| Gadolinium Silicon Oxide (GSO) is a material that emits light at high speed and high output when radiation like gamma ray enters. It is used as a scintillator in PET* scanners. As GSO is chemically stable and therefore does not easily deteriorate, there is less needs for replacement even after long-term use and reduces waste generation. In addition, temperature change does not trigger much change in properties, and it means no temperature control is required in the room where PET is installed, reducing power consumption. *PET (Positron emission tomography): Medical imaging equipment that detects cancer in the entire body. The adoption of high-performance GSO enabled quick and accurate detection. |
 |
| More |
| Ultraviolet Curable Resin |
| Hitachi Chemical's ultra violet curable resin made of acrylic oligomer and with our resin synthesizing technologies, does not contain organic solvents or formalin. It is designed not to cause environmental problems such as "sick-house syndrome," and contributes to resource and energy savings through reducing organic solvents and using ultraviolet light, instead of heating, to cure. |
 |
Details are described in our latest Sustainability Report.