Reducing CO2 from Raw Materials and Procured Goods
Cooperating with Suppliers to Alleviate the Environmental Burden
Canon has carried out collaborative activities with suppliers since 2009 to reduce CO2 emissions volumes from the production of raw materials and procured goods.
We aim to cut both CO2 emissions and costs by avoiding wasteful resource use and energy consumption in operational activities by suppliers. To achieve this, Canon and its suppliers are jointly carrying out analysis of and improvements to production processes.
To start this activity, we have held briefings for suppliers at six sites in Japan and 10 locations outside Japan since July 2009 and asked approximately 2,000 companies for action in reducing CO2 emission volumes. We expanded these efforts in 2010 and conducted briefings for suppliers who had not yet been through trading partner environmental evaluation.
In 2010 we also looked into the content of the Environmentally Conscious Design Guidance, which was create to encourage environmentally conscious design on the part of suppliers. In addition, we visited six suppliers of mechanical parts to advise them about ways to reduce CO2 emissions and costs in their processes.
Canon is also helping suppliers develop the same measures for reducing electricity consumption that we use at our operational sites. This involves installing electrical current monitors in switchboards and analyzing the data they provide to determine the causes of peak electricity use. Improvements based on that information lead to reductions in CO2 emissions and electricity cost reduction. We completed inspection of these measures at Group companies in 2010, and will develop the same measures at suppliers in 2011.
Lightening the Environmental Burden through the Use of Simulations during Development
Canon is avoiding the need to create prototypes by utilizing simulations at the product development stage. This action simultaneously facilitates quality improvements and reduces environmental impacts.
For example, we have developed and are applying a simulation program to calculate the discharge effect of ink droplets in the development of print heads for inkjet printers. This has enabled us to shorten development times and streamline prototype creation.
