The Environmental Approaches and Initiatives of Four Business Groups
Initiatives of the Printing Group
The Printing Group is implementing initiatives across the entire group in each field. In the fields of office and home, we are strengthening product services that provide a highly productive, convenience and secure environment without being restricted by workspace, and in the fields of commercial and industrial, we are strengthening our product lineup and expanding workflow software that supports labor saving and added value improvement.
We have been engaged in the remanufacturing of used multifunction devices since 1992, and our environmentally-specialized model has achieved a parts reuse rate of over 94%. In 2023, we introduced large-format inkjet printers that use corrugated cardboard as cushioning material, and multifunctional printers that use similar cushioning material and low-temperature toner to reduce power consumption by up to 15% compared to conventional printers.
We are promoting a green transformation (GX) throughout the entire product life cycle by increasing the resource recycling rate to 50% by 2030 and the ratio of remanufactured multifunction devices to 5% by 2050 globally.
Goals
Decarbonization (reducing CO2 emissions)
At the Printing Group, we aim to reduce CO2 emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by 42% and in Scope 3 (Categories 1 and 11) by 25% by 2030 from the level of 2022.
Canon Group total CO2 emissions reduction targets
Resource Efficiency
The resource recycling rate indicates the ratio of recycled materials and products to total weight of sales in the printing business. We have set targets of 20% in 2025 and 50% in 2030, compared to approximately 16% in 2022. Total weight of sales is calculated based on movements of the entire Canon Group, that includes new manufactured multifunction devices, recycled multifunction devices, toner and toner cartridges etc.
Strategy
Promoting GX Manufacturing
We are promoting green transformation (GX) manufacturing as part of our basic environmental policy, carrying out "Decarbonization" and "Resource recycling" measures across the entire lifecycles of products, in a way that goes beyond the ”specifications of products alone”.
Specifically, our printing group is implementing measures "Increasing usage ratio of renewable energy", "Promoting reuse through platform designs" etc., in addition to "Increasing the usage of recycled materials", "Reducing size and weight", "Saving energy usage", and "Extending the lifespan of consumables" for each product.
In this way, we are working to minimize the environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle including the environment of manufacturing products, managing and insuring of the product life in the market.
Measures
1. Measures for raw materials
Improve Recycled Material Adoption Rate
We are working to adopt and increase the content ratio of recycled plastics. By using recycled plastics not only the products themselves but also in accessories and consumables, we strive to reduce the use of virgin resources. Going forward, we will promote the proactive use of recycled iron.
1. Measures for raw materials
Make Smaller & Lighter
By verifying physical phenomena in simulations, we reduce the use of resources during development, as well as make products smaller and lighter. Reducing product weight reduces the use of resources, and increasing container capacity also decreases the environmental burden during transportation.
2. Measures for production
Improve renewable energy usage rate
We aim to use renewable energy for all electricity used at printing product production sites. In addition to solar panel power generation at certain sites, we have also promoted acquiring Renewable Energy Certificates that certify the environmental value of renewable energy.
3. Measures for logistics
Use Easily Renewable Materials for Packaging
Switch from conventional plastic materials to paper materials (cardboard, molded pulp) to reduce plastic consumption and thus help reduce global warming and environmental pollution.
4. Measures for use and maintenance
Implement Power-Saving Measures
We have reduced power consumption during operation and sleep mode.
We have incorporated such measures as operation panel power control, power-saving circuits, and energy-saving technologies for fusing* and will continue to work on further reductions leveraging the wide range of technologies and knowledge we have cultivated as a manufacturing company.
- *Fusing: The process of bonding toner to paper using heat and pressure
4. Measures for use and maintenance
Extended Service Life of Consumable Parts
Through revision of materials and structures and technological progress, we have significantly extended the service life of consumable parts such as drum units, developers, and fusers. We strive to reduce the use of virgin resources by extending the life of consumable parts and limiting the number of parts manufactured while taking into account product lifespan and market replacement frequency.
5. Measures for disposal and recycling
Modular Design to Promote Reuse
Canon is incorporating designs to make reuse easier, such as modularizing parts. This reduces the use of new parts, contributing to decarbonization and resource recycling.
5. Measures for disposal and recycling
Strengthen Product Recycling With “New Product-Equivalent Quality Control”
Our recycling sites in Japan, the US, and Europe collect used products from the region to recycle products, consumables, and parts.
5. Measures for disposal and recycling
Promote Reuse of Consumables and Parts Through “New Product-Equivalent Quality Control”
Reuse consumables and parts collected from the market, achieving quality equivalent to new products. We clean products, replace parts as needed, and ship under stringent quality standards. We will continue to expand the items and sites where this practice is implemented.
| Green Initiative Guide |