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 struggling 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 55,218 GWh between 2008 and 2020. This is expected to result in a CO2 reduction of 25,929,000 tons.
imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5700 Series
imageCLASS MF448dw
The multifunction office device imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5750i pursues energy-efficient design through features such as on-demand fixing technology, a high-performance main controller, and toner with optimal melt characteristics. These features enable it to achieve an approximately 47% reduction in CO2 emissions during customer use compared to the previous model. It thus manages to combine improved functionality with reduced CO2 emissions. 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 2021, 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 sixth consecutive year. It additionally received, for the fourth consecutive year, the highest-level distinction of “Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award.”
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.
In 2020, thanks to a continuous program of energy conservation measures across operational sites, driven by the activities of the Energy Cost Reduction Working Group and other initiatives, we achieved a year-on-year reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 10% to 940 kt-CO2. The special measures and facility closures associated with COVID-19 also contributed to the decrease.
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 and suppliers 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 155,086KL (crude oil equivalent).
In a joint undertaking with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., and three other enterprises*, Canon has launched a smart energy project which realizes major energy savings. Centered on the highest award in the Industrial Section. established within the Kiyohara Industrial Park in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, the Kiyohara Industrial Park Smart Energy Project is a multi-plant integrated energy-saving project. This means that, by introducing shared use of electric power and heat (steam and hot water) between a number of business sites with differing levels of demand, it realizes benefits not possible at a single business site operating in isolation. In 2020, the project posted reductions per base unit of 20% in energy consumption and 15% in CO2 emissions volume. This initiative was recognized in the Cogeneration Awards 2020, sponsored by the Advanced Cogeneration and Energy Utilization Center JAPAN, with the award of the Chairman’s Prize, the highest award in the Industrial Section.
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 renewable energy uptake status and economic efficiency under consideration. As a result of these initiatives adapted to local conditions, total worldwide renewable energy consumption by Canon Group companies, including Canon Production Printing and the headquarters of Axis Communications, was 82,070 MWh in 2020. Group companies in Europe sourced about 38% of total energy needs from electric power. Of this electric power, generation from renewable sources accounted for around 83%.
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.
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.
As part of the activities of the SmartWay Transport Partnership, sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Canon U.S.A. has significantly reduced the environmental impact associated with cargo shipment and helped to increase the number of shipment partners contributing to the initiative. For this and related activities, Canon U.S.A received a SmartWay® Excellence Award in the Shipper Category in 2020 for the second consecutive year.
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.