At the Canon MJ Group, all employees segregate waste appropriately by observing waste-related laws and regulations, thus reducing waste generated from our business activities.
A specific initiative is a system for tracing products until they are collected and disposed of, which we have introduced at our logistics centers across Japan to strengthen our management systems for preventing illegal dumping and other purposes. We also reduce the volume of delivery packaging (such as foamed polystyrene and stretch films) and sell them as plastic raw materials, thus reducing waste.

As part of our water risk initiatives, we conducted a water risk assessment of the Canon MJ Group's business locations in Japan using Aqueduct* of the World Resources Institute (WRI), and confirmed that the overall water risk level falls into the "low" or "low-medium" risk level. A specific initiative is the cyclic use of water at the headquarters building. Working together with Shinagawa Grand Commons Machizukuri Kyogikai (community development council), we use recycled water for flush toilets and other equipment, which is encouraged by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Monthly water consumption is ascertained and third-party verification is obtained for the Canon Group.
In addition, due to the increased risk of flooding from torrential rains and other factors caused by the recent increase in extreme weather events, we have examined tsunami submersion hazard maps and relocated our domestic business locations at high risk of flooding.

*Aqueduct: Global tool for water risk assessment developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI)

We collect used cartridges, toner containers, MFPs, printers, and other used products from customers and recycle them at facilities including Canon Eco Technology Park, which is a recycling center of the Canon Group.

Canon products that have been used at offices and other locations are collected at nine collection centers in Japan. We recycle the used products within the Group by working together with the Canon Eco Technology Park* and Top Business Machines Co., Ltd., which are the recycling centers of the Canon Group.

*Operated by Canon Ecology Industry Inc.

At Canon MJ, we provide the Canon Green Recycling Service based on the Ministry of the Environment's wide-area certification system, so as to drive collection and recycling of used products. This service eliminates the need for customers to issue, manage, and report manifests when they discharge used Canon products* as industrial waste from offices and other locations, thereby improving customer convenience and contributing to promoting recycling.

*Used Canon products from households are classified as general waste, which must be disposed of by following the rules of each local government.

At the Canon MJ Group, we aim to maintain a recycling rate* of 99.9% or higher for end-of-use products collected from customers, such as printers and MFPs. We have maintained our recycling rate at over 99.9% to date and will continue to do so by identifying the potential risks and taking measures in response.

* Recycling rate (rate at which end-of-use products are converted into new resources)
= Amount of products disposed of through methods other than landfill disposal ÷ Total amount of products disposed of

Canon recycles used cartridges, regarding them as valuable resources. We make effective use of used cartridges collected from customers as resources, instead of landfilling them. This activity of collecting and recycling used cartridges is made possible by customers' cooperation. We have therefore prepared various collection routes in response to the needs of cooperating customers.

*1: Ink cartridges only
*2: Toner cartridges manufactured by Canon, waste toner boxes for LBPs, and ink cartridges manufactured by Canon
*3: Ink cartridges manufactured by Canon and toner cartridges manufactured by Canon
*4: Toner cartridges manufactured by Canon and waste toner boxes for LBPs

In addition to collecting and recycling used cartridges, we implement environmental protection activities based on the quantity of collected cartridges. Specific activities include issuance of Bellmark points based on the quantity of collected cartridges, donation to the Furusato (hometown) Project, and donation to environmental protection activities through the Ink Cartridge Satogaeri (homecoming) Project.

The Canon Group works to reduce product packaging, not to mention downsizing its products. The Canon MJ Group also reduces packaging materials used for product delivery, repair, and maintenance, thus contributing to saving resources.

We have defined the scope and method for calculating plastic emissions and introduced new methods of measuring and managing these emissions in 2022. Examples of our plastic emissions reduction measures include selling packaging materials as plastic raw materials and donating products that were returned by customers.