Valuable forest resources, biodiversity, and various habitants are disappearing as a result of climate change and overdevelopment globally. Canon recognize that it is important to protect natural environment and biodiversity for the future sustainable society, and we promote conservation activities accordingly.
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.
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 PolicyCanon fully recognizes biodiversity as an important basis for a sustainable society, and promotes activities that contribute to biodiversity conservation.
Action GuidelinesTo help support biodiversity, Canon promotes the use of sustainable forestry resources as the raw materials for paper production within the value chain. We have set procurement policies favoring the purchase of paper products derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp. Moreover, the office paper we sell is made under forest certification schemes or using environmentally conscious raw 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 usedWe 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 traceabilityCanon 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.
Based on its Biodiversity Policy, Canon has adopted a new slogan of “Nature Positive,” and is promoting environmental initiatives that are closely intertwined with local communities around the world.
In recent years as an issue facing global society as a whole, and the notion of ‘nature positive’ initiatives that seek not only to conserve but also restore biodiversity has gained attention. ‘Nature positive’ actions hold the potential to prevent the loss of economic activity as well as create new jobs and businesses. Canon adopted the Group-wide slogan ‘Nature Positive’ to guide our collaboration with stakeholders at marketing and production sites worldwide in rolling out activities in line with local needs.
Based on our new Nature Positive slogan, we are promoting activities in three main areas of focus: “water,” “forests,” and “creatures.” Examples include managing green spaces and restoring ecosystems, and we intend to promote these activities in close connection with local communities around the world.
Below, we introduce various initiatives aimed at restoring ecosystems and protecting biodiversity, including the Canon Bird Branch Project implemented globally.
Wild birds migrating to a nesting box installed on site
Greenspace cultivated on site
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 the cycle of 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 includes a greenspace with a wide variety of trees that we call the Shimomaruko Woodland. Under the supervision of the Wild Bird Society of Japan, a monthly survey of the migration of wild birds is carried out. The number of species observed has grown from 23 in 2014 to 38 in 2022, indicating the success of efforts to promote species diversity. At other sites as well, we have created biotopes, with bird baths and nesting boxes installed and kept clean and measures 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. Meanwhile, 12 of our operational sites participate in the seasonal wildlife monitoring scheme proposed by the National Institute for Environmental Studies. Participants report the species of bird, plant, reptile, and insect observed at the site as well as the date on which the first birdsong of each species is heard, the date on which it is first seen, and the date on which each tree or plant begins to flower. These data also make a useful contribution to academic studies.
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.
Shimomaruko Forest, a green zone located on the premises of Canon’s Shimomaruko Headquarters, has been certified a biodiversity protection area by the Nature Symbiosis Site Certification Project, which is run by the Ministry of the Environment. This government-run project certifies areas where the conservation of biodiversity is being promoted through private-sector initiatives. It forms part of the government’s plans to effectively protect at least 30% of Japan's lands and seas by 2030, as part of the global “30 by 30” target.
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.
We periodically carry out surveys into the state of the habitats of the creatures that live on our premises. We have confirmed two species of butterflies--the Leptalina unicolor and the Eurema laeta--both of which are included in Tochigi Prefecture’s Red Data Book. Apart from butterflies, we also verified the presence of Japanese stag beetles and Japanese rhinoceros beetles.
Situated on the premises of our Kitsuki Office, the “Forest of Crabs” is home to red-clawed crabs. We regularly clean the Forest of Crabs to manage its environment. Every year, just after the end of the rainy season, between five and ten crabs appear. We created a mascot based on the red-clawed crab, and called it “Canny” (“kani” means “crab” in Japanese). The mascot even features on Kitsuki Office Visitor Permit stickers.
At the “Forest of Birds” located in Fukushima City, we are working together with forest staff to restore the rice terraces located there. These rice terraces used to be home to species of dragonflies and benthic organisms that are rare in Japan. However, when Typhoon Hagibis struck in October 2019, an accumulation of earth and sand wiped out their habitats. Following continued efforts to restore these rice terraces, we have been able to confirm the presence of insects and frogs--an indication of the ecosystem being steadily recovered.
Many of our employees actively help clean up coastal regions designated by Miyazaki Prefecture as a natural monument, since they are egg-laying grounds for loggerhead sea turtles.
Fukushima Prefecture is recruiting NPOs and companies to take part in tree-planting initiatives as a symbol of the region’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The initiatives aim to safeguard the state of local disaster prevention forests, while educating younger generations about the impact of the immense tsunami that struck in the aftermath of the earthquake. Fukushima Canon has taken part in these initiatives in Minamisoma City since 2018. Every year, employees and their families plant Japanese black pine saplings to help restore the coastal disaster prevention forests.
We created Tsumugi Pond in 2021 and a small river in 2023 as biotopes for wild birds and other creatures. These biotopes not only serve to protect biodiversity, but also function as places of relaxation that contribute to the symbiosis with our company members and the local community.
Together with the members of the Jitsukoku Kinrin Park Firefly Association, we carry out year-round activities aimed at creating environments for fireflies to inhabit. Our activities include weeding and ridding crayfish, which are natural predators of fireflies.
We keep sheep to get rid of weeds around the solar panels installed at Akagi Plant. The animals help us manage our green areas without having to resort to chemicals, which negatively impact the environment. The sheep have encouraged interactions with the local community, since children from nearby nurseries and kindergartens come to observe the animals.
Canon Group companies participate in phenological monitoring activities organized by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, in cooperation with the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of the Environment. Employees report the days on which different species of wild birds or insects on their premises make their first calls, and on which different plants first flower.
On our premises, we observe endangered species. For example, the golden orchid (kinran) designated as a category II (Vulnerable) can be found on the premises of Canon Chemicals in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, while the narrow-leaved helleborine on the grounds of Ayase Plant in Kanagawa Prefecture.
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.
Canon U.S.A. donates products and funds to Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of
the globally renowned Yellowstone National Park in U.S.A. to support surveillance activities
targeting endangered wildlife species.
The Canon Eyes on Yellowstone program allows
Yellowstone’s scientists and managers to break new ground in conservation, endangered species
protection, and the application of cutting-edge science and technology to park wildlife and
ecosystem management.
The data collected from these projects have educated and inspired
millions of people around the world. Eyes on Yellowstone enriches the visitor experience—real and
virtual—and encourages the public to become more involved in national parks and, more broadly,
environmental protection.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. supports the New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC) Marine Mammal rescue release program. It has been an annual summer tradition for Canon U.S.A., Inc. employees, their families and friends to watch the moment when a cold stunned sea turtle that was rescued by the NYMRC and nursed back to good health is released back into the ocean. Through Canon's sponsorship the turtles were satellite tagged, so the NYMRC can continuously track their journey after they returned back into the Ocean.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Solutions America, Inc. have been participating in a Coral Reef
Restoration Project led by the Rescue A Reef Program at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel
School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.
Students and citizen scientists outplant
corals that are propagated from coral species on a reef or grown in a lab. Research includes cross
breeding corals that will be able to resist warming ocean temperatures. Students continue to
document the project using Canon cameras, and the "Canon Reef" has been growing in size since
being planted in 2019.
© University of Miami / Evan K. D‘Alessandro, Ph.D.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. and other U.S.-based Canon Group companies work with employees, their families and friends to help protect the environment by cleaning parks and beaches near Canon's office locations.
Canon Virginia, with its vast green space, has added bee hives. Bees are at risk of extinction and losing their natural habitat, the hives not only provide a habitat but also encourages pollination of native plants in the area by bees. To make employees aware of this activity, the company holds events to discuss the importance of bees and the benefits they bring to the community. In addition, we have been able to collect honey from the hives and offer it for sale to our employees.
With the help of our partner Bosquia, we successfully concluded a project to reforest Bosque Canon (Canon Forest.) We planted a total of 2,080 trees, including pine trees and white birches, on the beautiful beaches of Torimbia in northern Spain. Over the course of their expected lifetime of 30 years, these trees will offset 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by our business activities. In recognition of these activities, Canon Spain has become the first manufacturer in the Spanish printing industry to receive the COMPENSO seal from the Spanish Ministry of Environment.
In Europe, insect populations have been shrinking for more than 10 years. Loss of habitats, the use of agricultural insecticides, a lack of nesting areas, and climate change have all contributed to this decline. When insect numbers fall, it also leads to a decrease in the number of the birds that feed on these insects. At Canon Giessen, we install insect hotels, dead headges , and insect troughs on our premises to protect insects.
Canon Research Center France is situated on a 45,000m2 site, the vast majority (80%) of which is greenery. Since 2011, we have worked together with the French League for the Protection of Birds--the official representative of BirdLife International in France--to protect and enhance biodiversity on our premises, and to increase the number of bird species that live here. To this end, we have focused on how we manage our green areas: we have changed the way we cut grass to protect the habitats of insects, discontinued the use of herbicides and pesticides, built greenhouse orchards, dug ponds to create habitats for butterflies, dragonflies, and crickets, and planted vegetation. Thanks to these efforts, a 2020 survey confirmed 34 species of wild birds on our premises, an increase of 31% over 2011.
In Thailand, canals of various sizes connect to the Chao Phraya River. But during the rainy season, common water hyacinths grow in such abundance that these waterways become clogged. This profusion of common water hyacinths restricts the flow of water in the canals, leading to a deterioration in water quality and the destruction of ecosystems. In some cases, they even cause flooding. Every year, volunteers from Canon Hi-Tech (Thailand) work with local government workers and local residents to eliminate common water hyacinths before the rainy season starts, and to clean areas close to the canals. The removed common water hyacinths are recycled into biofertilizers.
Thailand is one of the countries generating substantial quantities of marine plastic pollution, which contributes to the extinction of coral reefs. Corals are vital habitats, food sources, and nurseries for plants and aquatic animals. But by blocking sunlight, plastic waste can impede the photosynthesis of corals; and of course, the waste is concerning as a form of pollution in and of itself. By reducing our plastic waste emissions, at Canon Hi-Tech (Thailand) we have been engaging in coral reef protection activities including restoring marine ecosystems, regenerating coral reefs, and protecting sea turtles.
Fifty-four employee volunteers supported the One Million Trees project organized by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and planted 106 trees in Benjakitti Forest Park in the center of Bangkok. Launched in 2022 by the governor of Bangkok, the One Million Trees project aims to plant at least one million trees in the capital over four years. The project, participated by public and private organizations as well as residents in Bangkok, seeks to create a “wall of green” to filter dust in the atmosphere and to expand green areas and shade in the capital.
We participated in a mangrove planting and river cleaning event held on April 22, Earth Day, hosted by the Selangor Department of the Environment, then we planted mangroves. The event formed part of the Greening Malaysia Programme, a state-backed goal to plant 100 million trees in Malaysia over five years from 2021 to 2025. The programme aims to raise public awareness toward the importance of improving biodiversity and protecting forests. Canon Opto (Malaysia) donated 500 mangrove trees and, together with the Selangor Department of the Environment and NGOs, we planted 1,000 mangrove trees and collected one tonne of rubbish.
We launched the Clean Coasts for Tomorrow initiative to ensure the long-term sustainability of our coasts. The initiative consists of coastal cleaning activities aimed at combating coastal pollution and protecting marine ecosystems. Employees from our Mumbai Office joined forces with children from adopted village that we, CIPL support on the outskirts of Mumbai to carry out cleaning activities at Aksa Beach, a famous Mumbai tourist destination. At CIPL, we are keen to point out the importance of protecting both coastal resources and marine ecosystems, particularly to younger generations.
Our three companies work with local naval authorities to carry out coastal and marine environmental protection and beautification activities; our goal is to restore and protect marine ecosystems that have been impacted by plastic pollution. A total of 124 volunteers from our three companies took part in these activities at Nang Ram Beach, cleaning 2 km of coast and collecting approximately 100 kg of waste that had washed ashore. During these activities, we also encouraged tourists to help keep the coast clean, and planted 70 coral reefs.
As a silver partner of Rainforest Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, planting and preservation of rainforests, Canon Oceania regularly supports the planting of trees in the forests of Daintree National Park in Mossman, Queensland.
© Jasmine Carey
Canon Australia and Canon New Zealand have been supporting a number of community, educational, environmental and other organizations working for a better future through the Canon Grants Program for 17 years. The winners in the environmental category for 2023 were Hobart Rivulet Platypus, which protects and conserves the endangered platypus in the urban waterways of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, and Sustainable Oceans Society, which is implementing the Great White Project to deploy satellite tags on baby and juvenile Great White Sharks in the Tauranga harbor region in New Zealand. Canon provided grants and camera equipment to both organizations.
Canon New Zealand supports Hinewai Reserve, an ecological restoration project that aims to foster the natural regeneration of native vegetation and wildlife. We purchased 154 credits, 20% of total, from this project which helped purchase farmland that included old growth forest and then to remove highly invasive and exotic plants to allow native plants to flourish. The native plants sequester more carbon dioxide and the soils supporting natives also sequester far more carbon dioxide that pasture grass. Restoring biodiversity also restores the co-benefits of the life supporting ecosystem services (e.g., cleans drinking water of the local township, reduces soils erosion and creates habitats for local native insects and birds.
© M. Klajban
At the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which took place in December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted as a new global goal to replace the Aichi Targets. From now, based on this framework, the Ministry of the Environment is expected to spearhead Japanese efforts to formulate the next National Biodiversity Strategy.
The Shimomaruko Woodland at Canon’s headquarters complex provides a thriving environment for approximately 1,000 trees and shrubs and has become an important wild bird habitat in central Tokyo. As a Japan-based initiative in response to the adoption of the global ‘30by30’*1 target by COP15 (15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity) in Montreal, Canada, in 2022, the Ministry of the Environment is implementing a trial program to certify sites where action is taken to conserve biodiversity as ‘natural coexistence sites.’*2 Shimomaruko Woodland has now been certified as a “Nature Symbiosis Site.” Canon is also engaged in biodiversity conservation as a participant in the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity*3 launched by the Ministry of the Environment in partnership with interested business enterprises and local governments.
We introduce other Canon's Environmental Material Activities.