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Recent years have seen a global increase in natural disasters caused by extreme weather events thought to be the result of climate change. Cyclones, hurricanes, torrential rain, droughts, and heat waves are having a major impact on human life.
To tackle this issue, we are working to reduce CO2 emissions through all stages of the product lifecycle, including energy-efficient products design, initiatives at operational sites and production activities, and logistics.
Energy-efficient products supports to reduce CO2 emissions at customer use.
Canon is making efforts to design energy-efficient products, to reduce CO2 emissions at customer use.
For example, for its office multifunction devices (MFD) and laser printers, Canon uses energy-saving technologies, including on-demand fixing technology and induction heating (IH) fixing technology to reduce the amount of electricity needed during operation. Furthermore, we continue to make technological advances aimed at expanding our lineup of energy-saving products. For example, we have begun employing low-melt-point toner in new products, enabling fixing at lower temperatures than traditional toner.
Thanks to energy-saving technologies used in office equipment, Canon products achieved cumulative energy savings of 60,522 GWh between 2008 and 2021. This is expected to result in a CO2 reduction of 28,200,000 tons.
imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5800 Series
imageCLASS MF448dw
The multifunction office device imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5860i pursues energy-efficient design through features such as a newly developed low-melting point toner and a motor that optimally controls the electric current, thus achieving an approximately 13% reduction in CO2 emissions during customer use compared to the previous model. Additionally, optimization of the thickness of the outer frame and the use of a plastic frame on some units contribute to a weight reduction of more than 25% compared to the previous model. This reduces the amount of CO2 generated by raw material procurement. Moreover, higher output productivity with small paper sizes and a range of adaptations for quieter operation enhance its core performance as a multifunction device. These and other upgrades achieve the combined goal of reducing lifecycle environmental impact while also enhancing product performance. Meanwhile, the A4 monochrome laser multifunction device imageCLASS MF448dw achieves compact dimensions, with a height approximately 15% lower than the previous model at 392 mm, and reduced power consumption during sleep mode to approximately 0.9W. As well as contributing to space saving in the office environment and other settings, it also realizes increased energy efficiency.
Vantage Elan/NX Edition
Vantage Elan/NX Edition is Canon Medical Systems’ new 1.5-T (Tesla) MRI system, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functions and boasting the smallest installation space requirement for a model in its class. The design of the 1.5-T MRI system is the company’s first to eliminate the need for a separate computer room. With a footprint approximately 29% smaller than the previous model, it reduces installation time and costs. The system is automatically switched to standby mode during intervals between examinations, reducing maximum power consumption by 50% compared to the previous model. These and other features not only reduce costs but also contribute to energy saving.
At the ENERGY STAR® Awards 2022, sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Canon U.S.A. was selected as a “Partner of the Year–Product Brand Owner” for the seven consecutive year. It additionally received, for the fifth consecutive year, the highest-level distinction of “Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award.”
SACLA is an X-ray free electron laser facility operated by the Japanese government research institute Riken. It enables real-time observation and analysis of molecular structure, making it highly useful in the development of pharmaceuticals and other materials. The power source for SACLA’s electron beam accelerator is provided by klystrons manufactured by Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Ltd. Their product achieves energy savings of approximately 14% compared to the previous klystron product through improved microwave conversion efficiency, which has enabled a yearly saving of approximately 730 tons of CO2 for the facility as a whole.
SACLA X-ray free electron laser facility
At Canon plants and offices, we are steadily reducing power consumption.
Canon thoroughly tackled the reduction of CO2 emission during operation. Through the group-wide actions including painstaking energy management and regular checks of equipment status and operating settings, we pursue the improvement of energy efficiency.
We continued to pursue efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at operational sites in 2021, driven by the activities of the Energy Cost Reduction Working Group and other initiatives. However, the rebound in production activities that were hard hit by COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in a year-on-year increase of approximately 4% to 990 kt-CO2. Still, this represents a decrease of about 5% over 2019 levels.
Canon created the Energy Cost Reduction Working Group in 2014 as a horizontally integrated organization to take Group-wide action on reducing energy consumption. The group has worked to reduce energy consumption by undertaking a thorough-going review of operating conditions at production facilities, for instance by cutting out excess use of pressurized air and cooling water and adjusting air conditioner settings. Measures that prove effective are adopted for horizontal rollout to Japan and overseas production sites. Meanwhile, staff from a dedicated department at Head Office carry out energy-efficiency diagnosis on visits to production sites overseas all over the world. There, they check the operating status and settings of production equipment and then use their observations to make improvements to the operating efficiency of facilities and equipment and provide staff with relevant on-site training. Since the launch of this initiative, it has resulted in a Group-wide energy saving of 185,897kL (crude oil equivalent).
Energy Conservation Grand Prize award ceremony
In a joint undertaking in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, with the prefectural authorities and three other companies*1, Canon launched the Kiyohara Industrial Park Smart Energy Project, realizing major energy savings. The project integrates the Kiyohara Smart Energy Center and other sites newly established within the Kiyohara Industrial Park. By sharing use of electric power and heat (steam and hot water) between multiple business sites with differing levels of demand, the project achieved reductions per base unit of approximately 20% in energy consumption and 20% in CO2 emissions volume*2—which would not be possible for a single business site alone. In recognition of this initiative, Canon jointly received the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Joint Implementation Award under the 2021 Energy Conservation Grand Prize sponsored by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan.
Awarding of carbonzero certificate
Canon New Zealand has received carbon zero certification for reduction of CO2 emissions and purchase of CO2 offset credits, which are part of activities to meet its long-term CO2 reduction targets. The company has reduced its CO2 emissions volume as far as possible through a range of initiatives, from cutting business travel through the use of teleconferencing to switching its corporate vehicle fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles. To offset CO2 emissions that could not be eliminated by any means, the company purchased credits from projects in New Zealand and overseas and thereby reached net-zero emissions. In recognition of this initiative, the company received the New Zealand government’s Toitū carbonzeroCertTM certification.
Canon participates in the Liaison Group of Japanese Electrical and Electronics (EE) Industries for Global Warming Prevention made up of Japanese EE Industries, including the Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association (JBMIA), of which Canon is a member of the Board of Directors, acting as the managing director. Japanese EE industries have participated in the Keidanren's Commitment to a Low Carbon Society (currently known as Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan) and have compiled and implemented the EE Industries’ Action Plan for Commitment to a Low-Carbon Society, which is an initiative to address climate change. Canon is contributing to the promotion of this initiative.
Specifically, Canon participates in all committees under the Liaison Group and contributes to the formulation and operation of action plans, including the establishment of industry CO2 reduction targets for 2020 and 2030 and the formulation of methodologies for “calculation of avoided CO2 emissions through products and services”.
In the field of electrical and electronic technology, as a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), an international standardization body, Canon is also working on the formulation of rules for quantifying avoided CO2 emissions.
We are currently working to expand the use of renewable energy, especially in Europe.
We are working to expand the use of renewable energy, especially in Europe and Asia, while taking regional renewable energy uptake status and economic efficiency into consideration. A new office of Canon Europe and Canon UK have obtained BREEAM* ‘Excellent’ ratings for their use of renewable energy. Meanwhile, marketing company Canon China, now uses 100% renewable energy for the electric power used at its offices. As a result of these initiatives adapted to local conditions, total worldwide renewable energy consumption by Canon Group companies was 86,878 MWh in 2021, an approximate 6% increase over 2020. Group companies in Europe sourced about 45% of total energy needs from electric power. Of this electric power, generation from renewable sources accounted for around 82%.
Canon aims to make use of the most of renewable energy as an effective energy source toward net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Canon Production Printing’s new headquarters building (Venlo, Netherlands) uses a heat pump system, efficient storage systems for hot and cold water, and LED lighting to reduce its energy consumption. Further measures contributing to an environment-friendly office facility include solar panels and charging points for electric vehicles.
New Headquarters Building for Axis Communications
The new headquarters building of the Canon Group company Axis Communications (Lund, Sweden) is equipped with solar panels and LED lighting and provides cycle parking for cycle commuters. These and other features earned the facility the rating ‘Excellent’—the second highest of five possible rating levels—in the Swedish version (BREEAM-SE) of the British BREEAM* environmental assessment standard.
We use transport modes with a lower environmental impact and improve transport efficiency.
In order to reduce CO2 emissions from logistics process, Canon has undertaken several initiatives: modal shifts that utilize transport modes with a lower environmental impact, improving loading efficiency by downsizing of products and packaging, diversion or direct-shipment from production sites, and shortening routes by consolidating distribution centers.
To further improve transport efficiency, instead of the traditional one-way transport of containers with cargo, we have been actively pursuing Container Round Use (CRU), which includes not just containers within the Canon Group, but also containers imported by other companies for us to export. We are working with carriers and container transporters to expand the initiative. Also in our overseas sites such as Vietnam, we have been promoting the same initiative.
Our production site in Vietnam is making efforts to reduce logistics-related CO2 emissions. Canon Vietnam uses trucks to carry imported parts from the port to its site and then to take the manufactured products to the port for overseas export. As the volume of exported products is greater than that of imported parts, there was an issue with containers traveling empty from the port to the site. By teaming up with businesses who had the opposite issue of a greater import than export volume and who were therefore sending containers back empty from their site to the port, Canon Vietnam was able to share import and export containers, thus cutting the total number of truck journeys.
In recognition of Canon Vietnam’s initiatives, Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment presented the company with the Vietnam Environmental Award 2020.
Award ceremony in Vietnam
Canon products are helping to reduce disaster-related risks linked to extreme weather events on a global scale.
Mitigation measures to lower emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are important in minimizing the effects of climate change as much as possible, but adaptation measures are also needed at the same time to prepare for any impacts that cannot be mitigated.
Because Taiwan is plagued nearly every year by flooding caused by powerful typhoons and heavy rain, causing crop damage and posing a danger to people, a Hydrological Conditions Instant Video Surveillance System has been introduced. Surveillance cameras were installed along the southwestern coastal areas to monitor flood-warning levels and automatically sound alarms as the possibility of a flood increases.
AXIS 214 PTZ Network Cameras and AXIS Camera Station video management software are being used at 150 hydrological sites throughout Taiwan in order to monitor changes in water level with a 360° range, 24 hours a day.
Before relocation
After relocation
Miyazaki Canon site
In some regions, an increase in abnormal weather patterns has increased the risk of flood damage. We have already begun implementing appropriate responses to climate change. In Japan, for instance, we have relocated the Miyazaki Canon site, replacing the former riverside structures with new buildings on higher ground. Similarly, at our Thai production base, we used an elevated site to build Plant No. 2. Going forward, we will continue our progress with the formulation and updating of risk response plans to increase resilience.
We introduce other Canon's Environmental Material Activities.
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