Environmental History

Epson began treating wastewater discharged from its site so as to avoid polluting nearby Lake Suwa. In the 1970s, as pollution became a social issue, Epson stepped up its pollution control efforts and established tough new internal environmental standards with stricter water quality limits than required by legislation.

Since 1980 Epson has carried out programs to save energy by setting energy reduction targets, conducting site energy patrols, installing energy-efficient equipment, and much more. In 1983, the Shoen Plant (now part of the Hirooka office) installed a system with microcontrollers to control lighting fixtures within the factory. The dramatic energy savings that resulted prompted the Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan to recognize the Shoen Plant with a Good Lighting Award.

In 1988, a year that would become the first benchmark year for Epson's environmental programs, Epson became the world's first company to announce that it would completely phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in its global operations. Thanks to an intensive Epson Group-wide effort to eliminate these ozone-depleting substances, we became CFC-free in Japan in 1992 and worldwide the following year.

After quickly establishing CFC-free technology, Epson actively supported the efforts of partner companies (outside and on-site contractors) to eliminate the use of CFCs. As part of this effort, Epson set up a shared, CFC-free cleaning center in the former Shimauchi Plant and invited partners to use it.

In 1992 Epson received the first of six consecutive Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards (both Corporate and Individual Awards) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of the company's CFC-elimination program and individual accomplishments therein.

Tsuneya Nakamura, then Chairman of Seiko Epson, commented at the time, "When it became clear that CFCs were damaging the ozone layer, we quickly made a decision to phase them out of our operations. At first, I didn't think the decision was that big of a deal. Only later, when we were selected for this honor, did it dawn on me what we had accomplished.

Volunteer programs sprouted up across the Epson Group to foster harmony with local communities. In 1993, Epson America, Inc. (EAI) won a Waste Reduction Award from the state of California for its volunteer coastal cleanup program as well as its waste reduction efforts.

In 1998, a decade after the launch of the CFC elimination program and the year that Epson uses as its second environmental benchmark year, Epson established a general environmental action plan for addressing a range of environmental problems and formed six expert committees.

• Environmental Product Committee
• Energy Saving Committee
• Zero Emissions Committee
• Product Recycling Committee
• Chemical Substance Control Committee
• Green Purchasing Committee

In 1999 Epson began publishing an annual environmental report to inform the public of its environmental actions and to get public feedback that could be used to help shape future actions. In 2003 we began publishing an annual Sustainability Report that covers not only our environmental actions but also our social programs.

In 2000, in response to requests from local businesses and organizations looking for ways to save energy at their own sites, Epson teamed up with some other companies operating in Nagano to form the Suwa Regional Energy Patrol Team. The team visits local businesses, offices, and other facilities to assess their energy use and recommend ways to reduce their energy consumption. In 2005, as the benefits of the program gained broader recognition, a new Shinshu Energy Patrol Team was formed to provide expanded coverage over all of Nagano Prefecture. A similar program was launched in Taiwan in 2010.

As a way of contributing to Indonesia, a country where Epson has manufacturing operations, Epson established a reforestation program on Kalimantan, an island that has been rapidly losing its tropical rainforests. Enlisting the help of The Japan International Forestry Promotion & Cooperation Center and working closely with the Indonesian government, Epson replanted and maintained the "Epson Forest," a roughly 300 hectare area, up until 2008. By adopting an agroforestry approach, wherein agricultural crops are planted along with trees, this project not only restored a forest in decline but also improved the lives of local inhabitants.

Epson was quick to acquire certification for compliance with ISO 14001 as a way to help ensure the continuation and effectiveness of its environmental programs. In 1995 U.K. affiliate Epson Telford Ltd. (ETL) earned certification for BS7750 (a British Standard for environmental management systems on which ISO 14001 is based). By 2001, all of Epson's major manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites around the globe had acquired ISO14001 certification.

In 2000 Epson began the Epson Ecology Label Program. Under this program, we used labels to provide consumers with information about the environmental attributes (self-declared) of Epson products and to promote the creation of eco-conscious products. The LP-9400 (EPL-N7000 in some regions) page printer, released in 2001, was the first product to qualify for a label.

We started a standardized, global program to guarantee that certain banned substances are kept out of our supply chain. This program serves to assure that the parts and raw materials procured by Epson Group companies anywhere in the world meet criteria published in the Epson Group Green Purchasing Standard for Production Materials.

We launched a "zero emissions" program in 1997. The goals of this program are to recycle 100% of the emissions generated by our business activities (Level 1) and to reduce our total emissions (Level 2). By 2003 every Epson site around the world had achieved Level 1. Presently, we are working to reduce the volume of waste itself and to achieve a higher level of recycling.

To do what we can to fundamentally address the deepening problem of global warming, we established Environmental Vision 2050, a document that states Epson's long-range environmental goals.

Epson's SE15 Mid-Term Environmental Policy sets out the first milestones along the path toward achieving Environmental Vision 2050.

We launched the SurePress L-4033A. This digital label press was designed with a view toward using innovative Epson products and technologies to reduce environmental impacts during use. Employing Epson's Micro Piezo technology, the SurePress offers label manufacturers a dramatically lower environmental impacts than traditional analog label presses.

Epson began selling printers equipped with a high-capacity ink tank system in Indonesia and later expanded into some 150 countries and regions, focusing mainly on emerging nations. For this system Epson adopted a very different approach from that used in ink cartridge printers. Instead of replacing ink cartridges, users refill their printer's ink tanks with bottled ink, saving resources and providing superior environmental performance.

To improve the basic eco-performance of our printers and to provide users with more installation options, we completely revamped the design for compactness. The Expression Premium XP-600 inkjet printer has smaller mechanisms and a new, slimmer type of print head and ink cartridge, making them significantly smaller in every dimension than its predecessor the Artisan 730.

Epson's advanced inkjet technology is driving changes in office printing by accelerating the shift from laser to inkjet.
Office inkjet printers equipped with high-capacity ink packs save resources and time by dramatically reducing the need to replace consumables, and reduce the work involved in replacing, ordering, managing, and transporting consumables inventory. And with no heat used in printing, Epson inkjets use far less power than laser printers.

Epson has developed technology that will change the paper cycle, give new value to used paper, and stimulate in-office recycling. The PaperLab paper recycler, scheduled for commercial release in Japan in 2016, uses Epson's original Dry Fiber Technology to securely destroy confidential documents and recycle them without using precious water resources*.

* A small amount of water is used to maintain a certain level of humidity inside the system.

We are leveraging Epson's efficient, compact, and precision technologies to drive innovations in four areas with the objective of providing products and services that reduce environment impacts, including in our customers' business processes.

Responding to internal and external environmental changes, Epson revised its vision for achieving a sustainable society to reflect social imperatives. The vision articulates Epson's intention of using its unique strengths to create environmental value and address societal issues such as decarbonization, resource recycling, and the SDGs.

Science Based Targets initiative has approved Epson's global greenhouse gas reduction targets as being science-based and in line with the Paris Agreement.

Epson formulated a green bond¹ framework to procure the funds needed for projects to achieve social sustainability. We are actively using the proceeds from the issue of green bonds to advance environmental initiatives and achieve the goals of Epson 25.
¹ Bonds that are issued to procure proceeds specifically for initiatives in the environmental field

The first high-capacity ink tank inkjet printers were launched in Indonesia in October 2010. Since then, Epson has expanded sales to some 170 countries and regions, reaching 50 million in cumulative global units. These printers use fewer materials and particularly less plastic, the main component of consumables, than ink cartridge printers.

Epson's Environmental Vision was revised in conjunction with the updated Epson 25 Renewed corporate vision, which sets concrete goals for attaining our aspirational goal of achieving sustainability and enriching communities. Epson aims to become carbon negative and underground resource¹ free by 2050.
¹ Non-renewable resources such as oil and metals

We announced the corporate vision with the statement "Co-creating sustainability and enriching communities to connect people, things, and information by leveraging our efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies." The environment, digital transformation, and co-creation will be key to this effort. Contributions to the environment are a particular point of emphasis. On top of that, we will use digital technology and co-creation projects with a range of partners to realize innovation.

Epson aims to transition to 100% renewable electricity at all Epson Group sites worldwide by 2023 on our way to becoming carbon negative by 2050. In November 2021, Epson became the first company in the Japanese manufacturing industry¹ to convert to 100% renewable electricity at all its domestic sites.
¹ Among Japanese companies that have joined the RE100. Per Epson research as of October 27.

Epson signed a three-year international corporate partnership with WWF, the world's leading environmental conservation organization. The partnership involves collaboration in three areas: achieving sustainable business activities, environmental communication with society, and financial support for WWF nature conservation projects. Epson supports WWF's forest conservation activities around the world through donations.