Contributing to a Society in Harmony with Nature

Biodiversity Policy

Canon recognizes biodiversity as essential for a sustainable society. We carry out various activities to conserve and protect biodiversity under our Biodiversity Policy, which applies to the entire Canon Group.

Basic Policy

Canon fully recognizes biodiversity as an important basis for a sustainable society, and promotes activities that contribute to biodiversity conservation.

Action Guidelines

• Canon strives to conserve biodiversity with consideration for various regional characteristics from a global perspective.
• Canon actively works to reduce the impact on biodiversity associated with various business activities, and to conduct social-contribution activities that lead to biodiversity conservation.

Specific Actions

• “Utilization of Canon technologies and products for biodiversity conservation” Support for biodiversity conservation activities and projects
• “Consideration for biodiversity centered on operational sites” Ascertaining the impact of our business activities on biodiversity, and conservation of animal and plant habitats around operational sites
• “Contribution to the realization of a community rich in biodiversity” Promotion of biodiversity conservation activities and educational activities in collaboration with local communities

Canon Bird Branch Project

Biodiversity refers to the way living things interact as they coexist on earth. Within this sphere, birds occupy the top position in a local ecosystem pyramid of plants, insects, and small animals, symbolizing thecycle o f life. Canon promotes the Bird Branch Project, which encompasses a range of bird-centered activities at operational sites in Japan and overseas, as a symbol of the initiatives based on its Group-wide Biodiversity Policy.
By 2026, we would like to expand the number of sites participating in the project, from one head office in Shimomaruko (2015) to 60 all over Japan and overseas, and strengthen our efforts.

Activities in Japan

Canon’s Shimomaruko headquarters complex in Tokyo is located on a site with greenspace that contains a wide variety of trees. Under the supervision of the Wild Bird Society of Japan, a monthly survey of the migration of wild birds identified 36 species of birds on site so far. At other sites as well, bird baths and nesting boxes have been installed and are cleaned, and measures are taken to protect against bird strikes, creating on-site environments conducive to bird life. We also announce the installment of nesting boxes and otherwise offer opportunities for employees to learn that even familiar spaces can foster the lives of wild birds.

Overseas activities (France)

We also promote biodiversity conservation initiatives at overseas sites in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Canon Research Centre France is situated on a 45,000m2 site, of which 82% is greenery. Since 2011, it has worked under the guidance of the French League for the Protection of Birds to protect and enhance biodiversity in its grounds and increase the number of bird species using the site as a habitat. To this end, it has adopted a site improvement policy that includes discontinuing the use of herbicides and pesticides. This initiative has successfully increased the number of wild bird species on the site, which according to the most recent survey has reached 34.

Eyes on Yellowstone

Canon U.S.A. contributes funds to the globally renowned Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming to support surveillance activities targeting endangered wildlife species.
Specifically, through the research and education program Eyes on Yellowstone, Canon imaging devices are being used for ecological observation with the aim of building a digital image library that can be accessed through the website. These images will serve as educational resources for millions of children worldwide, helping to foster their knowledge of the environment and awareness of the importance of conservation.

Canon Canada Branch Out

Canon Canada’s Branch Out Program gives employees at all levels the opportunity to help create green spaces and sustainable environments in their local communities. Branch Out began as a tree-planting program in 2014 but has evolved to include a wide range of sustainability activities, including cleaning up parks, rivers and shorelines, removing invasive plant species, restoring habitats and constructing turtle shelters. All employees from Canon Canada’s 13 offices, from Toronto to Quebec City and Vancouver, are encouraged to participate, sparing a few hours from their work schedule to volunteer. Since the start of the program, employees have volunteered more than 9,700 hours in 68 locations across the country. Their achievements so far include planting more than 36,000 trees and shrubs, removing 7,000m³ of non-native vegetation, and restoring shoreline. In 2021, the program’s activities were maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic and included online events to teach employees and their families about the importance of biodiversity as well as the collection of donations for environmental protection groups. In recognition of its initiatives, Canon has been named as one of “Canada’s Greenest Employers” under the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project sponsored by The Globe and Mail, one of Canada’s leading daily newspapers, for three consecutive years since 2019.

Protecting rhinos by our network cameras

Axis Communications, a Canon Group company, has started to collaborate with a NPO to protect rhinos from poachers, and has donated network cameras and horn speakers in South Africa. The cameras use thermal imaging to detect objects and incidents 24/7, even in the dark. Our image identification technology detects suspicious activity and the horn speaker then issues an alert remotely.

Furusato Project—Linking Our Dream to the Future

In Japan, Canon promotes an environmental conservation and environmental education project known as the Furusato Project—Linking Our Dream to the Future, with the aim of passing on a beautiful, verdant, and biologically diverse furusato (hometown) for future generations to enjoy.
Through this project, Canon stakeholders, including employees and their families, customers, and business partners, forge links with NPOs and regional community members across Japan to carry out environmental conservation activities and environmental education programs. To help finance these activities, we promote initiatives closely linked with our business activities, such as donating funds according to the amount of used ink cartridges collected or the volume of paper sold.

Environmental Protection Activity in Partnership with Local Communities

Canon Hi-Tech (Thailand) actively engages in environmental protection activities throughout Thailand. In 2021, around 50 people, including employees and outside volunteers, participated in tree-planting activity in an area adjoining the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest region, which is designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site. As this is an area where forest fires occur frequently in the dry season, our team also cleared leaf fall that can be a fire ignition source, installed firefighting equipment, and worked with the local government to prepare a feeding ground for wild animals.

Basic Policy on the Procurement of Timber Products

1. Use sustainable forest materials

In its procurement of timber products, the Canon Group uses materials supplied from forest resources managed exclusively for use as timber products.

2. Trace the origin of forest resources used

We seek the cooperation of business partners to ensure the traceability of products throughout the manufacturing process, from the harvest of raw materials onward.

3. Confirm evidence of traceability

Canon works with its business partners to ensure the traceability of materials used in Canon products (or OEM products) and their packaging that are subject to timber product regulations in each country.

Canon Management Standards for Timber Products is here.