Environmental
Sustainability sits at the core of the "planet"
component of Advantest America’s tri-pillared approach to eco-friendly business
practices, while a dedicated Environmental Management System (EMS) serves as the
cornerstone of our sustainability commitment. Together, these mainstay
activities have contributed to our success and ability to achieve 14001
certification – first in 2008 and then recertification in 2012 for our new U.S.
headquarter in San Jose, CA. The central aspects of our environmental
program revolve around: 1) energy conservation; 2) waste
reduction/reusing/recycling; and 3) green procurement of business supplies.
Since implementing the program, Advantest America has demonstrated
progress through a significant reduction in energy use, a dramatic increase in
reuse and recycling vs. waste, and now uses environmentally sound janitorial
supplies exclusively. In a further step towards reducing our carbon footprint,
the company invested in Renewable Energy Certificates for American Wind Power to
offset the annual amount of greenhouse gases generated by its US facilities.
Advantest is currently listed with the EPA as a Green Power Partner of its
Leadership Club. Advantest America’s warehouse in Memphis, TN is now also
certified as ISO14001 compliant.
ISO 14001 and Advantest's Environmental
Management System
EMS Committee and
its Role
A steadfast
Environmental Management System Committee helps the company maintain its focus
on all aspects of certification for the ISO 14001 standard. Committee members
are employees of Advantest America and are responsible for participating in the
activities of the company’s EMS Committee. Typically consisting of ten (10)
members, committee duties include attending monthly EMS Committee meetings in
San Jose, staying abreast of Advantest America’s EMS program, taking on
sub-committee duties as needed, and serving as EMS Committee spokespeople with
employees. The EMS Committee meets on a bi-monthly basis.
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EMS
Aspects and Targets
Advantest America continually assesses its
practices and reviews the environmental impacts of its operations. Three (3)
primary areas of focus have been selected by the EMS Committee and approved by
senior management. They are: 1) Energy Conservation; 2) Waste Reduction, Reuse,
and Recycling; and 3) Green Procurement.
1) Energy Conservation
Conscientious conservation and reduced
energy consumption has been fundamental to Advantest Corporation’s environmental
focus since the mid-1990s. In recent years, these practices have been
rolled-out to the worldwide subsidiaries of Advantest, including Advantest
America, Inc. Monthly records are tracked by the corporation on the amount of
electricity used by each subsidiary with the goal of reducing overall
electricity use year-over-year. Moving forward, energy conservation will play an
important part of the Advantest America’s EMS program. We will routinely track
and monitor electricity use in the headquarters building in San Jose, with the
intention of continually reducing our usage.
2) Waste Reduction,
Reuse and Recycling
Since the mid-1990s, waste reduction and
recycling has been mandated by our corporate headquarters and vigilantly
practiced throughout Japan. More recently, this mandate has been imposed
on all subsidiaries of Advantest around the globe. The corporation keeps monthly
records on the amount of waste generated by each subsidiary and the percentage
of this total that is recycled. We now track and monitor waste (including paper
use and solid garbage), in the headquarters building in San Jose as part of the
EMS, with the intention of reducing the volume of waste year-over-year and
increasing the percent of that volume which is recycled. We will continue our
efforts for recycling plastic, aluminum, batteries, lamps, cardboard, pallets,
and styrofoam.
3) Green Procurement
Green procurement is
an increasingly important practice within Advantest and the establishment of our
Environmental Management System, will enable us to expand and carry out
our commitments to ongoing sustainability. As part of the EMS, we have
expanded our green procurement efforts by substituting numerous toxic materials
with a full range of environmentally friendly janitorial supplies at our San
Jose facility. Where ever possible our new supplies are Green Seal
approved.
EMS
An integral
component of our ISO 14001 certification, Advantest America’s Environmental
Management System (EMS) sets the framework for our
environmental sustainability programs. |
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Renewable Energy
Certificates are carbon offsets that promote the expansion of renewable energy
generation in the U.S. Purchased by Advantest America, these RECs enable us to
offset all of the electricity used at our U.S. headquarters in San Jose.
