6 STEPS FOR COMPANIES TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT

More and more companies and products are labelled as ‘carbon neutral’ or ‘carbon net-zero’, but what does this mean and how can you become carbon net-zero? To get a better understanding it is important to know the exact definitions of carbon neutral and carbon net-zero.

The terms carbon neutral and carbon net-zero are often used interchangeably but there is a difference between the two. Both carbon neutral and carbon net-zero refer to the amount of GHGs (greenhouse gasses), such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or methane (CH₄).* You can become carbon net-zero if the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of emissions avoided or reduced.

The process of becoming carbon neutral is similar as to becoming carbon net-zero but it typically encompasses a broader definition of offsetting residual emissions, including activities aimed at avoiding emissions, and does not mandate a specific reduction path. Unlike carbon net-zero, carbon neutral does not have a specific reduction trajectory and it is also less rigorous regarding reporting.

At Canon we are now using the 'carbon net-zero' approach and will no longer use 'carbon neutral'. Canon is committed to become carbon net-zero by 2050.

* Looking specifically at paper, only the greenhouse gas CO₂ is emitted during its product life cycle.

First, you must measure your company’s carbon footprint to create a baseline. You can do this by conducting a carbon footprint assessment. Asses all current carbon emissions across all operations, this also includes transportation, manufacturing processes, supply chain activities and energy use. Next step is to identify the main sources of emissions and prioritize areas for reduction.

Invest in energy-efficient technologies and practices to reduce energy consumption in office buildings, production facilities, and other operations. For example, switch all fluorescent lightbulbs to LED lights. LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than fluorescent bulbs. To reduce your carbon footprint even more you can switch to renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power to run the company’s operations.

Buying high quality and energy-efficient equipment may be expensive but it benefits the company by reducing power consumption. High quality equipment also tends to last longer. It is important to have regular maintenance done on the equipment. Regular maintenance will keep costs down in the long term and ensure the equipment lasts longer.

By putting different recycling bins in the office, the employees can separate their waste. You can also recycle items on a bigger scale, some items you throw away can be reused somewhere along your or your supplier's production line. For example, you can recycle your empty toner cartridges or toner bottles. By sending your empty ink and toner cartridges back to the manufacturer you reduce the carbon footprint. At Canon we disassemble the toner cartridges. Some parts are used in the production for new cartridges. Some parts will be recycled as material, (e.g., metal). All other parts are recovered as energy. Canon also offers local collection and recycling options through third parties for our customers toner bottles and other consumables such as those from large format printers that fall under the WEEE Directive.

If you only make use of sustainable suppliers, it will reduce your carbon footprint. The company’s carbon footprint is affected by your suppliers, even though you are not involved in their operations. Buying products from sustainable suppliers will reduce your company’s carbon emissions and so the carbon footprint of your company. The supply chains become more and more transparent, use this in your favor. Suppliers who have an ISO 14001 certification are actively working to improve resource efficiency and lower waste reduction.

Even without changing your printing habits you can make changes to reduce your carbon footprint. You can adjust your printer settings to reduce ink or toner usage, such as printing in draft mode or using eco-friendly font types that require less ink.

The paper you use can make a significant difference on your carbon footprint. Most companies are aware of the existence of recycled paper. Switching to recycled paper may not be suitable for your company, but are you already aware that there is Canon Red Label Zero, a high-quality paper which supports achieving your carbon net-zero goals? The certified carbon footprints of Canon Zero papers are proof of the efforts to lower CO₂ emissions during the total paper life cycle. We also engage in climate projects to compensate unavoidable CO₂ emissions, extending up to the product’s disposal.