The OEM has published its Sustainability Report for 2018, offering a “comprehensive” overview of how Canon is implementing its CSR initiatives, in alignment with the UN’s 2015 Sustainable Development Goals.
For 2017, Canon exceeded its goal of a 3 percent lifecycle CO2 emissions improvement index per product over 2016 results through efforts to make products more compact, lightweight, and energy efficient, as well as through improved efficiencies during manufacturing and transportation.
“A central pillar of Canon’s decision-making process is the ongoing effort to continually reduce our environmental footprint as a company,” said Seymour Liebman, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “At Canon U.S.A., we do a great deal to carry on our parent company’s legacy and are proud to have had a hand in exceeding our energy efficiency goals. Keeping our philosophy of Kyosei at top of mind, Canon U.S.A. will continue to challenge ourselves to be innovative in our practice of corporate social responsibility.”
In the report, Canon explains that it actively strives to reduce the environmental impact that its activities have throughout the product lifecycle.
As an example, the Sustainability Report highlights the environmental achievements of the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5500 II Series of office multifunction devices, which were developed with the goal of reducing energy costs and CO2 emissions as compared with previous imageRUNNER ADVANCE models. This C5500 II Series reduces CO2 emissions compared to previous models by incorporating on-demand fixing, induction heating fixing, and the latest technological advances in low-melt-point toner to reduce the amount of electricity needed during operation. With the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5550F II, Canon achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions during use of approximately 47 percent and a reduction in lifecycle CO2 emissions of approximately 23 percent compared to previous comparable models, based on such measures as lowering the typical energy consumption (TEC) rating.
Due to the company’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products, Canon was recognised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency this year with the 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence. This marks the third year in a row that the EPA has recognized Canon for its efforts to promote energy conservation.
Canon’s automated cartridge recycling system
Among Canon’s various environmental sustainability initiatives is the Toner Cartridge Recycling Program, which has been in place for more than 25 years and uses a process of sifting and melting to turn waste toner cartridges into pellets that can be used to make recycled products. Collection of toner cartridges is now conducted in 23 countries and regions for recycling at four sites in the United States, Japan, France, and China, with a cumulative collection volume of about 394,000 tons since the program began, as of the end of 2017.
In the report, Canon explains that the OEM also strives to make its products smaller and lighter to help reduce the consumption of resources in the form of raw materials. For example, when the TS8100 series inkjet printer was redesigned last year it introduced a 31 percent smaller footprint than the model it replaced. Additionally, the imagePROGRAF PRO-6000S large-format inkjet printer is just under 12-inches narrower than previously released imagePROGRAF models, requiring fewer materials to be used in the manufacturing of these models.
In addition to reducing impacts on the manufacturing front, Canon says it is also the proud sponsor of a variety of environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility activities. In 2017, Canon celebrated 20 years supporting the non-profit Yellowstone Forever, which provides educational programs and helps contribute to scientific research and conservation efforts in the United States for America’s first national park. Among the initiatives that Canon sponsors in the park is the “Eyes on Yellowstone” program that promotes the observation of endangered wildlife species residing in Yellowstone National Park through Canon imaging devices.
To view the Sustainability Report in full, click here.
