Protecting and Preserving Our Environment Essay

At WD, we recognize the need to preserve and protect the res publicas vital graphic resources. We believe that part of being a good corporate citizen and a good neighbor is harboring or up the cleanliness of the air, water and land of the locations in which we operate. As a result, our facilities throughout the valet comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and each(prenominal) has developed and implemented a comprehensive set of practices designed to secure continued deference. In addition, we continu all(prenominal)(a)y freshen up our trading operations and affectes to identify opportunities which allow us to concentrate or recycle byproducts generated by our activities. We argon alike concerned about defend the natural resources of the communities in which our products are sold and occasiond. We study the content of the products we fable and arrest established programs to eliminate or phase out the apply of certain materials restricted by intern ational legislation. We select also begun pass for sale a line of products specifically designed to reduce the environmental bushel resulting from their use.All of our manufacturing facilities in Asia have environmental solicitude dodges in place which are ISO 14001 certified. Each facility has a comprehensive insurance and set of supporting procedures addressing environmental permits, pollution prevention, furious substances, abscondwater and consentaneous wastes, airborne emissions and product content. Our policies express a commitment to continued improvement, and to this end, we review the status of our environmental circumspection systems at least annually.All of our manufacturing facilities have environmental specialists onsite, and we provide training programs on environmental practices for employees whose job duties impact our environmental care systems. In addition, all of our facilities provide clear scripted direction to all employees and workers in languages app ropriate to each site regarding requirements and responsibilities for environmental practices in accordance with company policy.Compliance with RoHS and WEEE DirectivesWD products manufactured and sold ecumenical after August 1, 2005, meet or exceed Restriction of gaga Substances (RoHS) compliance requirements as mandated by the European Union for electrical and electronic products. The RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament, which was effective in the EU beginning July 1, 2006, aims to protect human health and the environment by cut back the use of certain waste substances in new equipment, and consists of restrictions on lead, mercury, cadmium, and other(a) substances. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive was developed to minimize the government of electrical and electronic equipment into landfills. WD hard drive products and packaging include the WEEE emblem in support of this directive.Supplier ComplianceWD has conducted and contin ues to conduct very capacious tests regarding use of environmental compliant material on all our components. WD requires all component suppliers meet WDs environmental condition, titled WDs environmental Guidelines for Materials, Components and Products. This 20-page Specification sets forth the maximum threshold limits for restricted, prohibited and managed substances and requires suppliers to adhere to all applicable laws. In addition, the Specification states that all WD suppliers and sub-suppliers will be judge to complete environmental declaration forms for all new materials and components based on a combination of knowledge of their incoming raw materials, process review and their own analytical testing and certification data. Suppliers are required to maintain documented records, made avairesearch laboratoryle to horse opera digital, indicating which measures are used to master compliance to the Specification. We review all suppliers Declarations of compliance with WDs e nvironmental Specification during the launch of every new hard drive program and also track this together with a 3rd party Analytical lab data by component in our Environmental Compliance database. In addition, we maintain strict requirements with respect to Supplier Process/Material miscellanea requests. Suppliers are also required to keep records of their in process tests to ensure compliance to the approve Process Management Plan andapproved materials. These are regularly audited by WD.Greenhouse Gas EmissionsGlobal climate mixed bag, caused by increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, is one of the most significant concerns veneer our world today. As a corporate citizen, WD is particularly sensitive to the cause of global climate change. The need to understand the science of climate change and to formulate appropriate policy to address scientific findings is intensifying with each passing day. To view WDs Greenhouse Gas report, click here.Q&A for Environmental and Hazardous MaterialsEnvironmentalQDoes westbound digital have management representatives responsible for assuring compliance with respect to environmental laws, regulations and codes? AYes. horse opera digital has management representatives at all critical sites whose core responsibility is monitoring, communication and training employees in all aspects of environmental compliance as related to the specific facility.QDo Western digitals facilities receive periodic audits of environmental practices in order to assess conformance with regulatory and other requirements? AYes. Western Digital conducts both internal and external audits to evaluate its compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.QWhat types of policies, rules or procedures does Western Digital maintain relative to environmental programs? AWestern Digital maintains environmental polices, rules and/or procedures which address environmental permits, pollution prevention, hazardous substances, liquid waste, solid waste, air emission controls and product content. The substance of these programs is delivered to our employee tribe utilizing discordant formats including in-person training, web-based training, face-to-face communications, postings and bulletins. All programs are communicated invarious languages appropriate to the employee population of each of our facilities to insure that all employees have a clear understanding of the programs.QDoes Western Digital place contractual requirements on its suppliers to be in compliance with environmental laws, regulations and codes of conduct? AYes. Whenever possible, Western Digital executes contracts with its suppliers which require, among other things, that the suppliers comply with all relevant and applicable environmental laws and regulations.QIs Western Digital required to maintain certain environmental permits in the operations of its facilities? AYes. Western Digital is required to maintain certain environmental permits as re lated to the operations of its facilities. Based on the geography and the operations, permits may be required for chemical handling and fund, waste treatment, wastewater discharge, air emissions and storage tanks.QDoes Western Digital make available Material Data safe Sheets (MSDS) to workers that handle chemicals? AYes. Western Digital makes MSDS sheets available to employees onsite at all of its facilities. In addition, Western Digital contracts for OnCall MSDS information domestically.Hazardous MaterialsQDoes Western Digital use hazardous materials in its manufacturing process? AYes. Western Digital utilizes a phase of hazardous materials in its manufacturing operations. Classifications of hazardous materials include flammables, combustibles, corrosives and toxic gases.QHow does Western Digital store chemicals at its facilities? AWestern Digital stores all hazardous materials in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Storage areas are secured and covered containing v arious types of containers including bottles, cylinders, drums and other approved vessels with the appropriate type of labeling and containment as required or recommended by codes, regulations and other authorities.QDoes Western Digital generate wastes that are classified as hazardous wastes? AYes. Western Digital generates various types and quantities of hazardous wastes. All wastes are wedded of in compliance with applicable law, and we regularly audit our hazardous waste haulers and their facilities.QDoes Western Digital have a program or procedures for management of hazardous waste? AYes. Western Digital has a variety of programs and procedures for the management of its hazardous waste. These include monitoring, characterization, treatment, conversion and disposition. All wastes are disposed of in compliance with applicable law, and we regularly audit our hazardous waste haulers and their facilities.QDoes Western Digital have a site specific management system registered to ISO 14001, OSHAS 18001, or other recognized health and safety or environmental management standards? AYes. Western Digital factories in Malaysia and Thailand maintain management systems which have earned the ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 designation.QDoes Western Digital have programs or procedures to reduce or eliminate pollution and waste in its operations? AWestern Digital is forever looking for ways to eliminate or reduce pollution or waste generated by our operations. Among the programs we look are solvent re-use or elimination, process waste and emission minimization, packaging reduction, recycling or elimination as well as reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.QDoes Western Digital have programs or procedures to reduce the use of energy, water and other natural resources in its operations? AWestern Digital is always looking for ways to reduce energy and other natural resource consumption in our operations. Among the programs we consider are evaluating product or process desi gn modifications, improvement in energy efficiency of process, and the evaluation of construction, maintenance and land use programs.