Environmentally Conscious Management
Promotion System
Global Environmental Promotion System
Led by the Sustainability Headquarters under the supervision of the CFO of Canon Inc., Canon is conducting environmental activities with the aim of achieving Canon’s environmental targets and realizing Canon Group environmental vision. We use a global framework comprising the Canon products operations and Canon Group companies in Japan and overseas. Canon Executive for Sustainability Headquarters, a position occupied by an executive officer of Canon Inc., reports each month to the CFO (and to the CEO if necessary) on all environmental activities to gain approval.
Moreover, based on the identification of the related risks and opportunities through the discussions of the Sustainability Committee, the direction and content of any sustainability-related matters requiring the response or engagement of Canon is approved by the CEO.
Environmental Management System
Canon has instituted a common environmental management system (EMS) in line with the ISO 14001 standard covering Group operational sites worldwide. The EMS promotes environmental assurance activities (Do), which are linked with activities of each division (products operations, operational sites, and Group companies). In turn, we set annual and medium-term environmental targets (Plan) and establish action plans and important measures to achieve those targets, which are reflected in our business activities. Moreover, we carry out Environmental audits to check the progress of initiatives as well as any issues to be addressed in each division, and Environmental and CSR performance evaluations, to assess our environmental performance (Check). We then work to continually improve and enhance our environmental assurance activities (Act). This PDCA cycle is used to manage the evaluated and identified risks as well. By implementing the PDCA cycle for environmental assurance activities of each division, we achieve continual improvement and reinforcement and advance the environmental assurance activities of the entire Canon Group. The Sustainability Headquarters ensures the smooth management of this system by gathering Canon’s Environmental Management System information on environment-related laws and regulations, establishing environmental policies and rules for the entire Group, and planning and managing evaluation methods for environmental assurance activities. Reflecting the need for independent, third-party evaluation of EMS effectiveness, all Canon Group operating sites with manufacturing or marketing functions are ISO 14001-certified. In 2024, Canon Inc. as well as Group companies operating in 39 countries and regions (in total, 117 companies/529 operational sites) had gained ISO 14001 certification. The acquisition of consolidated Group certification has supported stronger corporate governance and more efficient environmental management. The progress of activities is one element of the management review used to monitor this area, which includes relevant reporting to and approval of both the CEO and CFO of Canon Inc.
| Certifications Obtained |
Canon’s Environmental Management System
Confirming the Effectiveness of Environmental Management
Canon uses an internal environmental audit to confirm the effectiveness of its environmental management system. This audit is made up of a headquarters environmental audit performed by the Sustainability Headquarters, together with an operational site environmental audit and product environmental audit conducted by the audit departments of business divisions, operational sites and sales companies. Mutual cross-site audits are carried out in certain locations.
The results from internal environmental audits are collated by the Sustainability Headquarters and reported to the CEO and the CFO of Canon Inc. via management reviews. In 2024, the audits found no major nonconformity or violations. From the perspective of continual improvement and prevention, we are taking steps to rectify even minor findings relating to operations management, including stricter supervision of the chemical content of Canon products, legal compliance at operating sites, and proper management of chemicals.
Monitoring of Progress toward Environmental Targets
Operational sites report monthly to Sustainability Headquarters on energy consumption, volume of waste generation, chemical substance emission volumes, and water usage. Monthly aggregates are tracked against targets to monitor progress, and are also reported monthly to executives and top executives at major Canon Group companies. Collated results are also included in semiannual and annual environmental/CSR performance assessments, as well as being used for business improvement activities.
Environmental / CSR Performance Assessments
In addition to achievement of environmental targets and the results of environmental activities by operational sites, we also evaluate the various environmental activities (see table) of our business divisions and sales companies as part of assessing the environmental life cycle performance of Canon’s business activities during stages such as development, production and sales. This becomes one input into the consolidated performance evaluation system used to assess management of Canon’s overall business performance.
