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Company Profile:Environmental Activities

Reduction of environmental impact of products

Actions Related to RoHS Directive

1. RoHS Directive

DIRECTIVE 2002/95/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances ("RoHS Directive") prohibit from July 1, 2006 manufacturers from placing on the EU market any new Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) containing more than certain specified levels of the following substances:

  1. Lead and its compounds
  2. Cadmium and its compounds
  3. Mercury and its compounds
  4. Hexavalent chromium and its compounds
  5. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
  6. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

There are a number of exempted applications for these substances. Manufacturers need to ensure that their products and the components of such products comply with the requirements of the RoHS Directive as well as associated country-specific regulations.

Some examples of exempted applications in the RoHS Directive specific to semiconductors are described below, but these should not be understood as exhaustive or complete. In order to correctly understand the exemptions contained in the RoHS Directive, please study the RoHS Directive itself and related information as provided by the following URL. As the RoHS Directive and its country-specific implementations are likely to be revised from time to time, please be sure to remain updated with the most recent information. (The link below leads to the European Union's official site regarding the RoHS Directive, but does not include each European country's specific laws and regulations implementing the RoHS Directive.)

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/weee_index.htm (This page opens in a different window.)

Examples of exempted applications
  • Lead contained in solder with a high melting point (i.e.: tin/lead solder alloy with lead content exceeding 85%)
  • Lead contained in solder which is composed of several elements used for connection between the pin and the package of a microprocessor, with a lead content of more than 80% and less than 85% in weight.
  • Lead contained in solder used for the electrical connection between the semiconductor die and the carrier in the flip chip package of the integrated circuit.

2. Notice

Information regarding Toshiba Semiconductor Company's change in packing labels to include indications regarding the European RoHS Directive (6 February 2006)

Toshiba Semiconductor Company now indicates the relationship between our products and the European RoHS Directive on the packaging labels of the shipping boxes. Here are examples of the labels for our RoHS-Compatible products. For more information, please contact our sales department.

Examples of label indications for European RoHS-Compatible products

Example 1: Products which do not contain restricted chemical substances in quantities exceeding the maximum concentration value permitted by the RoHS Directive

Example 2: RoHS Directive in a quantity that exceeds the permitted maximum concentration value, but which fall within the application exemptions in the Directive.

3. Definition of terms used by Toshiba Semiconductor Company regarding the RoHS Directive

Toshiba Semiconductor Company's definitions of terms relating to the handling of　substances restricted by regulations can be found at the following link.

Definition of terms (May, 2007 updated , PDF: 68KB): (This page opens in a different window)

4. Attention

Before purchasing our products, please confirm the RoHS compatibility status with our sales department.

A Message to Our Suppliers Regarding Green Procurement

As of March 25, 2005

In response to the various evolving and tightening environmental laws and restrictions such as European RoHS Directive, the Semiconductor Company of Toshiba Corporation (which is called "the Semiconductor Company" in this home page), established internal restrictions on the materials it will use in its products. These internal restrictions are part of the Green Procurement Guidelines established by the Semiconductor Company and reflect the requirements of our semiconductor customers. By implementing these guidelines, the Semiconductor Company, in cooperation with its suppliers, is endeavoring to procure environmentally conscious products.

The ability to offer semiconductor products that comply with applicable environmental regulations is increasingly becoming an important factor in determining the quality of semiconductor products. As a result, it is necessary to identify and control restricted and regulated substances that are used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure that there are suitable substitutes for restricted substances. In light of the vast number of substances that are used in the manufacturing of semiconductor products, the close cooperation of the Semiconductor Company and its suppliers is imperative. In order to ensure that there is effective cooperation, we have been informing our suppliers of the above situation and asking for their support. In this way, we have started to develop a new procurement model, called "green procurement" as reflected in the Green Procurement Guidelines.

Basis for the Green Procurement Guidelines

Based on the current regulatory environment, the Semiconductor Company has determined that certain substances should be controlled. The following are certain of the laws, regulations and other issues taken into account coming to this conclusion.

  1. Japanese Laws and Regulations
    • Law concerning the Protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of Specified Substances and Other Measures
    • Law concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture etc. of Chemical Substances
    • Industrial Safety and Health Law
    • Law on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Regulation etc. of Special Chemicals
    • Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management (PRTR)
  2. Other Laws and Regulations
    • RoHS Directive (Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment)
    • WEEE Directive (Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment and Directive 2003/108/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2003)
      http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee_index.htm(This page opens in a different window.)
    • ELV Directive (Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of life vehicles)
  3. Substances specified by customers and substances specified by the Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI)
  4. Toshiba internal guidelines
    • Toshiba Corporation internally controlled substances related to the semiconductor business
    • Toshiba Semiconductor Company's internally controlled substances

Content of the Green Procurement Guidelines (revised in August 2006)

The essential point of the Green Procurement Guidelines is the requirement that suppliers submit accurate and timely information regarding the substances used in the products they supply to the Semiconductor Company. In particular, we have prepared guidelines for certifying non-use and non-inclusion of controlled substances, disclosing items on the system, providing guarantees, and providing analysis results. These guidelines refer to specific details of each substance and component and include our two certification forms regarding (a) RoHS Controlled Substances and (b) Controlled Substances (as set by the Semiconductor Company).

Requirements for Suppliers
  1. Certification regarding RoHS Controlled Substances
  2. Certification regarding the Controlled Substances
  3. Analysis data
  4. MSDS
  5. Product/Component Constitution Table
  6. Survey sheet on establishment of environmental quality management system

Important Legal Note

The information contained herein is intended to assist Toshiba suppliers in complying with the Semiconductor Companies Green Procurement Guidelines. Certain of the information contained herein is simplified guidance based on complex and changing legislation, and does not constitute legal advice. The laws and regulations referred to herein themselves, including the RoHS Regulations, should always be read and understood (as they constitute the law), in contrast with the information contained herein, which is intended to be informative but has no legal authority. You should refer to the applicable laws and regulations themselves, including the RoHS Regulations, for a full statement of the legal requirements and in the case of any doubt take independent advice, including your own legal advice. The laws and regulations referred to herein, including the RoHS Regulations, may be revised from time to time, so users should take care to keep themselves informed.

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