After conducting environmental audits for the first time in
1989, Toshiba Group developed a comprehensive environ-mental audit system and has been using the system since
FY1993 to conduct audits based on standards established
by the group. The audit system initially developed was com-posed of four categories: (1) management system audits
(environmental activity promotion systems, etc.), (2) on-site
audits (levels of compliance with rules regarding environ-mental facilities, etc.), (3) VPE audits (levels of achievement
of goals set in voluntary plans), and (4) technology audits
(product environment management system, environmental
performance, etc.). Audits were conducted over two days to
check these items. The most important of these categories
were on-site audits, reflecting the shop-floor approach. This
approach is incorporated into the environmental audits of
sites conducted today.
Environmental technology audits of products became an
independent category in FY1995. Environmental management audits were started in FY2004 to evaluate the level of
environmental management in in-house companies and key
group companies.