Epson unveils bold new vision for sustainable growth
By 2050, Epson intends to slash its C02 emissions to a tenth of their current levels.
Epson has a long history of setting challenging environmental goals for itself. Its latest bold step was the June 2008 announcement of a long-term environmental direction called Environmental Vision 2050, the centrepiece of which is an endeavour to slash the carbon dioxide emissions of Epson's activities covering the entire lifecycle of its products to just one tenth of current levels by the middle of the century.
There is no telling, of course, what Epson will be doing in 2050, as a number of operations will have been phased out by then and many new ones launched. Even with such constraints, the new vision means that any operations resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions will not be pursued, no matter how profitable.
Environmental Vision 2050 seeks to minimise the environmental burden of Epson products and services throughout a product's lifecycle and covers C02 emissions during not only production but also product packaging, transport, and after-sales use. Measures are also included to promote recycling, especially of rare metals used in various products.
During the next 10 years, Epson will pursuer four actions geared toward achieving the goals of Environmental Vision 2050. These include:
* A reduction of CO2 emissions at the component manufacturing stage through energy-saving decisions.
* A new business model based on the creation of longer-lasting products.
* A halving of energy use by clean rooms.
* Support for employee participation in reforestation programs and other eco-friendly projects.
With its new environmental vision, Epson is now better positioned to become a company that not only is emulated by other manufacturers but also makes a valuable contribution to enabling sustainable growth for the planet as a whole.