Panasonic has adopted SAP’s Recycling Administration application to comply with the worldwide product end-of-life regulations and retailer mandates.
SAP said that the new application improves e-waste management for Panasonic. The German software firm added that the application reduces recycling and operational costs, and improves recycling and reuse of e-waste to protect the brand while designing, manufacturing and distributing innovative, safe and compliant products.
The Japan-based electronics manufacturer uses SAP Recycling Administration in classifying recyclable materials by type, weight, usage, destination, brand and category, said SAP. It added, the software is integrated with the SAP’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) to support countries with different and evolving compliance requirements, and to offer a central data repository to address regulatory requirements.
At present, Panasonic is using the new application for 50 various compliance schemes. SAP said that Panasonic continues to roll out the application throughout its European offices.
Panasonic Europe environmental project manager Thomas Knopp said with SAP Recycling Administration, Panasonic improved the recycling data management process significantly — representing a 50% time savings across 18 countries and 50 different compliance schemes.
Knopp added, "The application also allows us to generate more accurate calculations of product net weight, the basis for recycling charges per the WEEE directive, and consequently has reduced recycling costs by 15 percent, which adds up to millions of dollars every year."
SAP said that Recycling Administration enables Panasonic meet regulatory requirements and reduce the risk and cost of reporting about the sustainability status of electronic products and packaging on a regular basis.
