History of Environmental Activities


Era Year Panasonic Group World Japan
~1970s 1967    
  • Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control enacted
1968    
  • Air Pollution Control Law enacted
1970
  • Pollution Survey Committee established
 
  • Water Pollution Control Law enacted
  • Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law enacted
1971    
  • Environment Agency established
1972
  • Environmental Management Office established
  • U.N. Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm (Declaration of Human Environment adopted)
 
1973  
  • First oil shock occurred
 
1975
  • Environmental Management Regulations enacted
   
1979  
  • Second oil shock occurred
  • Energy Conservation Law enacted
1980s 1985  
  • Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer adopted
 
1987  
  • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted
  • World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) advocated the concept of sustainable development
 
1988
  • CFC-reduction Committee established
 
  • Ozone Layer Protection Law enacted
1989
  • Environmental Protection Promotion Office established
   
1990s 1991
  • Matsushita Environmental Charter (Environmental Statement and Code of Conduct) enacted
  • Matsushita Product Assessment adopted and implemented
 
  • Keidanren Global Environment Charter enacted by Japan Federation of Economic Organizations
  • Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources enacted
1992
  • Environmental Policy Committee established
  • The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Agenda21 and Rio Declaration on Environment and Development adopted
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted
 
1993
  • Matsushita Environmental Voluntary Plan (Year 2000 targets) adopted
  • Matsushita Group’ global environmental internal audits launched
 
  • The Basic Environment Law enacted
1995
  • Acquired Environmental Management System Certification at AV Kadoma Site (first in the Matsushita Group)
  • First Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP1) held in Berlin
  • Containers and Packaging Recycling Law enacted
1996  
  • ISO 14001 International Standard on Environmental Management Systems launched
 
1997
  • Corporate Environmental Affairs Division (CEAD) established
  • Environmental Conference established (held semi-annually)
  • COP3 held in Kyoto and adopted the Kyoto Protocol
  • Keidanren Appeal on the Environment announced by Japan Federation of Economic Organization
1998
  • Love the Earth Citizens’ Campaign commenced
  • Recycling Business Promotion Office established
  • First environmental report (1997) published
 
  • Home Appliance Recycling Law enacted (took effect in 2001)
  • Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming enacted
  • Energy Conservation Law revised: Top Runner Approach introduced
1999
  • Green Procurement launched
  • Chemical Substances Management Rank Guidelines established
  • Acquired ISO14001 Certification in all manufacturing business units
 
  • PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) Law enacted
2000s 2000
  • Lead-free Solder Project commenced
  • Held first environmental exhibition for general public in Osaka
  • Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) issued The Sustainability Reporting Guidelines
  • Basic Law for Establishing the Recycling-based Society enacted
  • Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources enacted
2001
  • Environmental Vision and Green Plan 2010 adopted
  • Held Environmental Forum in Tokyo and Freiburg,Germany
  • Panasonic Eco Technology Center launched
  • Reached final agreement on the actual rules of Kyoto Protocol in COP7 held in Marrakesh
  • Reorganized into the Ministry of the Environment
  • Law Concerning Special Measures against PCBs enacted
2002
  • Panasonic Center Tokyo opened
  • Johannesburg Summit (Rio+10) held
  • Kyoto Protocol ratified
  • Vehicle Recycling Law enacted
  • Law for Countermeasures against Soil Pollution enacted
2003
  • Declared ‘Coexistence with the Global Environment’ as one of the twin business visions
  • Factor X advocated as an indicator for Creating Value for a New Lifestyle
  • Completely introduced lead-free soldering globally
  • Super GP Accreditation System launched
  • Achieved zero waste emissions in Japanese manufacturing business sites (ongoing program)
  • Held Environmental Forum in Tokyo
  • EU’s WEEE Directive was enacted
 
2004
  • Environmental Vision and Green Plan 2010 revised
  • PCB Management Office established
  • Superior GP Accreditation System launched
 
  • Prohibited manufacturing and use of products containing asbestos in principle
2005
  • Participated in Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan as an official sponsor
  • Green Plan 2010 revised
  • Continued with the nationwide Lights-out Campaign
  • 3R Eco Project launched
  • Completed the elimination of specified substances (6 substances) in products
  • Matsushita Group’s Green Logistics Policy established
  • CF Accreditation System introduced
  • Panasonic Center Osaka opened
  • Eco & Ud HOUSE opened
  • Installed the first commercial household fuel cell cogeneration system in the new official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister
  • Won the first place in Nikkei Environmental Management Survey
  • Kyoto Protocol entered into force
  • Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan held
  • National campaign against global warming “Team −6%” launched
  • Marking for the presence of the specified chemical substances for electrical and electronic equipment (J-Moss) established
2006
  • Environmental specialist position established
  • ET Manifest introduced into all manufacturing sites of Panasonic in Japan
  • Realized lead-free plasma display panels and introduced them to the market
  • Full-fledge introduction of biodiesel fuel in logistics
  • Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive took effect in EU
  • Relief Law for Asbestos Victims enacted
  • Energy Conservation Law revised: new cargo owner obligations, widened product scope of its application, and top runner standard revision
2007
  • Energy conservation activities at our factories in Malaysia approved as CDM project by the U.N.
  • A new environmental mark 'eco ideas' introduced
  • Panasonic Center Beijing opened
  • Environmental Forum in China held
  • “Declaration of Becoming an Environmentally Contributing Company in China” announced
  • Panasonic ‘eco ideas’ Strategy announced
  • The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released
  • Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals entered into force in EU
  • Framework for CO2 reduction agreed at Heiligendamm Summit (G8)
  • The Bali Road Map for the post Kyoto Protocol agreed at COP13
  • Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (China RoHS) came into effect
  • ‘Cool Earth 50’ announced by Prime Minister Abe
  • ‘21st Century Environment Nation Strategy’ formulated
  • ‘The Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan’ formulated
  • ‘Ministerial ordinance partially amending the Enforcement Regulation of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law’ promulgated
  • ‘Domestic Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee’ established
  • ‘The Second Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society’ formulated
2008
  • Established the Corporate CO2 Reduction Promoting Committee
  • Held environmental exhibitions, ‘eco ideas’ World
  • Home Appliances Company announced environmental statement in which named its Kusatsu site as ‘eco ideas’ Factory
  • Announced ‘eco ideas’ Declaration in Europe
  • Established Environmental Strategy Research Center
  • G20 (conference of key countries’ environmental and energy ministers) held
  • Hokkaido Toyako Summit held
  • Cool Earth Promotion Program announced by Prime Minister Fukuda
  • Mislabeling incident of waste paper pulp percentage
  • Long-term Energy Demand and Supply Outlook announced
  • Japan’s Voluntary Emission Trading Scheme started
2009
  • Opened the ‘eco ideas’ House to demonstrate a lifestyle with virtually zero CO2 emissions throughout the entire house
  • Announced the Asia Pacific ‘eco ideas’ Declaration
  • Announced ‘eco ideas’ factories (in Czech, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore)
  • Sanyo Electric joined the Panasonic Group
  • China WEEE law promulgated
  • New framework for countermeasures against global warming on and after 2013 (post-Kyoto Protocol), the Cophenhagen Accord, was adopted at the COP15 (Copenhagen conference)
  • Seeking to emerge from the Lehman collapse, countries throughout the world accelerated actions for the Green New Deal
  • Energy Conservation Law amended: Covered area expanded from factories to commercial sector facilities
  • Flat-panel TV and clothes dryer added as covered products under the Home Appliance Recycling Law
  • ‘Eco point’ system started
2010s 2010
  • Announced “Vision looking to the 100th anniversary of our founding in 2018”
  • Announced new midterm management plan, “Green Transformation 2012 (GT12)”
  • Announced ‘eco ideas’ Declarations (Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Russia)
  • Established ‘eco ideas’ Forum 2010 in Ariake, Tokyo
  • Launched Panasonic ECO RELAY for Sustainable Earth
  • Kasai Green Energy Park eco-friendly factory completed?
  • COP10 held in Nagoya—Nagoya agreement made
  • APEC meeting held in Yokohama
  • Ruling party lost in US midterm election—changes in anti global warming policy
  • Cancun agreement made in COP16—Post-Kyoto framework still to be discussed
  • Draft legislation of Basic Law of Global Warming Countermeasures submitted but remained in deliberation
  • Obligatory greenhouse gas emissions reduction started as a part of Tokyo Emissions Trading Scheme
  • Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law amended: self treatment regulations tightened
  • Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (CSCL) and Law concerning Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) amended
2011
  • Announced North America & Taiwan ‘eco ideas’ Declarations
  • Announced establishment of Panasonic Dadi Dowa Summit Recycling Hangzhou Co., Ltd.
  • Announced the Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town Project
  • Established Corporate Electricity Saving Division that bridges functions across the organization
  • Rare earth prices soared
  • Revised RoHS directives enforced in EU
  • COP17 (Durban Climate Conference): Agreement made on long-term future of the scheme, and the second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol (Japan announced non-commitment)
    • Home appliance eco-point incentive program finished
    • The Great East Japan Earthquake
    • Revised Air Pollution Control Act and Water Pollution Control Act enforced
    • Act on Special Measures Concerning Procurement of Renewable Electric Energy by Operators of Electric Utilities enacted (Feed-in tariff system to be enforced July 2012)
2012
  • Business reorganization due to full acquisition of Panasonic Electric Works and SANYO Electric
  • Commenced sales of Resources Recycling-oriented Product series
  • Terminated production of household incandescent light bulbs
  • Establishment of Environmental Management Group, Environment & Quality Center, Global Manufacturing Division
  • Communication of ‘eco ideas’ Declaration (Vietnam)
  • United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20)
  • “Doha Climate Gateway” adopted at COP 18 Doha 2012, to lay down a future legal framework in which all nations can participate by 2020 and onwards
  • Revised WEEE Directive implemented in Europe
  • The Recycle Resource Project, national campaign by Ministry of the Environment, commenced
  • 2012 Japan Tax Reform Bill enacted (Environment tax came into force in October 2012)
  • Feed-in tariff for recyclable energy put into effect
2013
  • Announced new midterm management plan Cross-Value Innovation 2015
  • Announced new brand slogan "A Better Life, A Better World"
  • PETEC’s home appliance recycling reached a cumulative total of 10 million units
  • Announced ‘eco ideas’ factory (Philippines)
  • Phase I of the Kyoto Protocol ends.
    Japan’s target expected to be achieved in combination with forest CO2 absorption and application of the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms.
  • GRI announced G4, the next guidelines for CSR reports
  • Minamata Convention on Mercury to internationally regulate import and export of mercury adopted at UN conference
  • IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (Working Group 1) announced the possibility of human activity being the principal cause of global warming observed since the mid-20th century is “extremely high.” Global average surface temperature is expected to rise as high as 4.8℃
  • COP 19 Warsaw reaffirmed participation of all nations in the future framework of the Convention for 2020 and later. Nations were asked to submit emission pledges well in advance of 2015.
  • Home Appliance Recycling Law for small household appliances enforced
  • Basic Plan for Establishing a Recycling-Based Society implemented
  • Keidanren’s “Action Plan Towards Low-Carbon Society” started (until FY 2021)
  • Amended Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy and Amended Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming established. Amended Act on the Rational Use and Management of Fluorocarbons promulgated (June)
  • Voluntary Action Plan by the electric and electronics industry terminated. Achieved improvement by 48% in CO2 emissions per basic unit in average actual production output for fiscal 2009-2013 (compared with fiscal 1991 level) to the target of 35%
  • Japan announced in November its fiscal 2021 reduction target of 3.8% over fiscal 2006 and registered this with UNFCCC Office (but with a possible review of the tentative target, which does not include possible resumption of nuclear power plant operations)
2014
  • Panasonic DADI DOWA Summit Recycling Hangzhou Co., Ltd., started operation
  • Opening of Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town
  • Announced Eco Declaration (Southeast Asia & Pacific)
  • Communication of housing & town development at the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference (IGEM) (Malaysia)
  • Targets for product environmental regulations in Europe begin to shift from energy saving to resource efficiency and environmental impact
  • EU Parliament reelection results in the appointment of Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission. Review of the circular economy package was decided.
  • IPCC 5th Assessment Report analyzed that the current multiple ways to achieve control of global temperature rise to less than 2°C cannot be materialized unless the target becomes nearly zero by the end of the century. Attention to “adaptation” is growing.
  • COP12 Convention on Biodiversity, PyeongChang concluded the interim assessment of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as “progress has been made but remains inadequate”
  • UNESCO Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was held in Nagoya, confirming the activity results for the “United Nations Decade of ESD”
  • COP 20 (Peru) reached agreement on the policy of developing reduction targets based on common rules for publication of “a new legal framework beyond 2020 applicable to all Parties”
  • The amended Energy Conservation Act was enforced, incorporating action on power conservation during peak periods into existing qualitative reduction targets
  • Phase II of the Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, a voluntary program promoted by Keidanren as measures against global warming, was newly established in response to government request, setting the target year to 2030
  • Toyota Motor launched fuel-cell vehicle MIRAI into the commercial market
2015
  • Won Zayed Future Energy Prize 2015
  • Wonder Japan Solutions (Tokyo) held for the first time
  • Announced the introduction of indirect contributions through housing, automotive, and B2B solutions in the size of contribution in reducing CO2 emissions
  • Announced the Tsunashima Sustainable Smart Town development project, together with Yokohama City and Nomura Real Estate Development Company
  • Paris Agreement on the international legal framework for global warming control from 2020 and later was adopted at COP21 (Paris)
  • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted at the UN Summit, focusing chiefly on sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  • Draft proposal to cut greenhouse gases by 26% over 2013 levels as its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target announced by the Japanese government
  • COOL CHOICE, a new nationwide movement for greenhouse gas reduction, started Era Year Panasonic Group World Japan Sustainability Data Book 2016 contents 77 prev page next
2016
  • Establishment of Environmental Management Department, Quality & Environment Division
  • Announced R&D 10-Year Vision
  • Revised Green Plan 2018
  • Announced participation in Future Living Berlin, the first Smart City project in Germany
  • Announced collaboration with Tesla Motors for solar batteries.
  • G7 Toyama Environment Ministers’ Meeting held; ministers representing the G7 nations and the EU discussed policies on seven themes including resource efficiency and 3R, biodiversity, climate change, and related measures
  • UK decided to leave the EU (Brexit) in a national referendum
  • GRI announced “GRI Standard,” the new guidelines for CSR reports
  • COP 22 held in Marrakesh, Morocco. Agreement reached on establishing a rulebook to make the Paris Agreement effective by 2018
  • Donald Trump won the US presidential election
  • COP 13, the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity, held in Cancun, Mexico
  • The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake
  • The Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures was decided by the Cabinet. Direction of Japan’s global warming countermeasures to achieve the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions under COP 21 was clarified. Long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 was set.
  • Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures was amended; focuses on promoting the enhancement of Cool Choice, the reinforcement of international cooperation, and regional global warming countermeasures
2017
  • Announcement of Panasonic Environment Vision 2050
  • Opening of Tsunashima Sustainable Smart Town
  • France, UK, and China announced the prohibition of sales of gas and diesel cars and the conversion to EVs in the future
  • Revision of the Charter of Corporate Behavior delivering on the SDGs through the realization of Keidanren Society 5.0
2018
  • Announcement of Monozukuri (Manufacturing) Vision
  • Achievement of zero-CO2 factories at Panasonic Eco Technology Center Co., Ltd. (PETEC), Panasonic Energy Belgium N.V. (PECBE), and Panasonic do Brazil (PANABRAS)
  • COP24 was held. The policy based on the Paris Agreements to be uniformly applied to all member countries was adopted
  • The fifth Basic Environment Plan was decided by the Cabinet. Set up six crossfield strategies utilizing the concepts of SDGs
2019
  • Announcement of Green Plan 2021
  • Participation in ‘RE100’, an international initiative for the use of 100% renewable energy as electricity used in business operations
  • UN Climate Action Summit was held. Rising trend of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, with a target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5℃
  • COP25 was held in Spain. The statement urging governments to increase the GHG reduction targets was adopted
  • G20 Osaka Summit was held. “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision”, which aims to further reduce pollution caused by marine plastic wastes, was shared
2020s 2020
  • Launched a Global Circular Economy Project to accelerate corporate-wide activities to build a circular economy
  • Started Sustainable Management Promotion Consortium where internal members who are interested in sustainablity get together to discuss related topics.
  • Achieved zero-CO2 factory in PEC (Wuxi) in China.
  • Countries accelerated their decarbonization efforts and subsequently announced carbon neutrality statements.
  • EU released a new battery regulation proposal.
  • Announced carbon neutrality by 2050.
  • Formulated “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050.”
2021
  • Environment Vision transformed to GREEN IMPACT.
  • Set up Sustainability Management Committee led by the Group CEO.
  • COP26 was held in UK. Countries agreed to aim for 1.5°C target for global warming.
  • Announced reduction of GHG emissions by 46% below FY2013 levels by FY2030 and continuing strenuous effort in its challenge toward a 50% reduction as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
  • Formulated the Sixth Strategic Energy Plan.
2022
  • Announced impact targets to reduce CO2 emissions in the world by 2050 that is the target year set in the Panasonic Green Impact.
  • Announced the Green Impact Plan 2024.
  • Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. achieved zero carbon at all its sites worldwide.
  • COP 27 was held in Egypt.
  • COP 15 in Canada; the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted.
  • IPCC announced its Sixth Assessment Report.
  • The Japan’s government announced ‘its basic policy toward achieving GX (Green Transformation)’.
  • METI announced ‘its Growth- Oriented, Resource-Autonomous Circular Economy strategy’.
  • Keidanren announced ‘Towards Green Transformation (GX)’.