Investments, green-tech innovation, and digitally enriched training are some of the key points contained in the document.
Epson presents the European Sustainability Report 2021/2022, a document detailing the company’s progress on the path to more sustainable operations. Not only that, but it also presents initiatives to provide products that support customers’ sustainability goals, as well as programs aimed at enriching education through technology and understanding the implications of climate change.
Inspired by international protocols such as the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Epson has earmarked 770 million euros to switch to renewable energy sources, reduce emissions to keep global warming within the 1.5°C limit as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and achieve independence from underground resources by 2050.
Indeed, the Japanese company is innovating production with solutions that reduce waste, cold technologies that use very little energy, and products designed to last a long time, be reused and recycled.
“In the face of the growing evidence and severity of the effects on the climate,” says Yoshiro Nagafusa, President and CEO of Epson Europe B.V, “the call for action to promote sustainability takes on an urgent character. Epson is investing decisively, both financially and strategically, in a more sustainable future. We embrace change, offer customers solutions to make it happen, and promote the awareness we all need to create an increasingly sustainable world.”
Sustainability in Epson’s operations
The new report examines Epson’s commitment to sustainability in every area in which it operates, from energy to supply chain to close the resource loop.
– Sustainable energy:
The results observed in 2021/22 show that Epson is delivering on its 2021 global target to switch to electricity from entirely renewable sources by 2023; is making the energy transition to a mix consisting of solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro; and is already powering all European sales offices with energy from renewable sources. All of this is to cut an estimated 36,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year starting in 2023.
– Sustainable supply chain:
Epson is committed to implementing a supply chain optimized for sustainability. These initiatives were taken in 2021/22: optimizing pallet loading with a 9.9 percent increase in cubic meters transported per pallet; shifting from air to ocean freight and concurrently opening a new depot, resulting in more than 6.8 million kg of CO2 emissions reduction.
– Sustainable technologies for customers:
In addition to the operational side, Epson is committed to developing technologies that help customers achieve sustainability goals; marketing solutions specifically designed to reduce customers’ environmental impact goes in this direction, including:
EcoTank printers, which reduce plastic waste: with more than 70 million units sold, these models have helped significantly reduce the use of plastic, a major component of ink cartridges.
Cold-weather technologies such as Epson’s Micro Piezo inkjet printers, consume up to 83 percent less power than laser solutions.
Technologies such as PaperLab create a circular economy for paper recycling while reducing energy, water, and paper consumption.
Not only that, Epson has reduced corporate fleet emissions by switching to electric, hybrid, and low-emission vehicles, bringing them below the 105 g CO2/100 km threshold per vehicle.
In line with its Open Innovation strategy focused on people and the planet, Epson is also intensifying research and development in the field of bioplastics and aims to increase their use in manufacturing. As part of a consortium of companies, the company is developing plastic derived from biomass generated from seaweed, with the ambition of producing 200,000 tons per year by 2030. It is also exploring the use of powdered metals derived from recycling in 3D printing, to create a circular infrastructure in areas such as automotive components and electronics.
Enriching training through technology
Education is central to Epson’s business strategy and is considered a powerful catalyst for a more sustainable future. The company is committed to raising awareness internally, among partners, suppliers, customers, and in society as a whole. Broader involvement in communities includes initiatives for children and youth. For example, it promotes the New Horizons educational program in Europe, to reach 10,000 students of all grades, providing information and technology that will help them grasp the meaning of what is happening around them and better understand the impact of their actions.
Epson is also engaged in ongoing outreach at events such as the UN COP conferences. COP26 in 2021, held in the United Kingdom, saw the company launch the Climate Reality Barometer, a research effort continued at COP27 recently held in Egypt. The special “barometer” surveys the awareness, ways of thinking, and actions associated with climate change of tens of thousands of people around the world, to improve decision-making at government, business, and individual levels.
Global Benchmark Standards
The report also shows how Epson measures its performance against key global benchmarks and standards, which in 2021/22 include:
– presence on CDP’s A-List for the second consecutive year;
– Platinum rating from EcoVadis for the third consecutive year;
– participation in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA);
– presence in the FTSE4Good Index for the nineteenth consecutive year.
The summary is in the words of Henning Ohlsson, Director of Sustainability at Epson EMEAR: “Our company’s goal is to make a positive contribution to society, to offer a more sustainable future, to give back even more than we receive. This Report shows tangible progress, but there remains as much to be done. We are convinced, however, that ambitious investments, continuous innovation, and efforts to enrich education will create a more sustainable world.”
The 2021/2022 Sustainability Report is available at the following link
