Epson publishes 2020 European Sustainability Report

Epson has published its Green Choice sustainability report providing details of the sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) measures actioned by the company across its entire EMEA operations.

Kazuyoshi Yamamoto, president of Epson Europe

During 2020 Epson has aligned its business activities to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a commitment it made following the 2016 Paris Accord and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Epson has recently achieved an EcoVadis Platinum rating for sustainability, which means that it meets the highest standards for human rights, labor conditions, environment, ethics, and sustainable procurement. This achievement places Epson in the top 1 percent of companies in its industry.

The Green Choice report also highlights several achievements, including the 8.56 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions per employee and scope 1 and 2 emissions by 18 percent (equivalent to 485,753 tonnes of carbon dioxide). The company has also recycled 23,700 tons of material, including batteries, paper, wood, plastic, and electrical waste equipment, and is now using 100 percent renewable energy in all its owned buildings.

Within its CSR policy, Epson engaged with over 11,000 students as part of its New Horizons program, introducing young people to sustainable technology and inspiring them to achieve their career goals. The company has recently signed up as a technology partner to the United Nation’s Smart Sustainable Cities implementation program to utilize technology to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in cities around the world.  

Kazuyoshi Yamamoto, president of Epson Europe, commented: ‘Epson’s Green Choice report provides our customers with the assurance that we are taking all available measures to achieve sustainability across our entire European operations. Sustainability is in our DNA, it runs through everything we do. It is about constantly addressing and improving every aspect of our global footprint, from our manufacturing and distribution to use of resources and behaviors of our people. 

‘Working with our customers is my passion, understanding their needs, and listening to what they say is essential as we continually work to improve what we offer. The Green Choice report is about providing our customers with the guarantee that Epson is completely serious about sustainability and the future of our planet. Each and every one of us can make a green choice. Together, as we face the challenges in this new normal, we must all work even harder to make the right choices and create a more sustainable future for our people and planet.’

Henning Ohlsson, CSR, and sustainability director, Epson Europe, added: ‘Our Green Choice report is about making the right choice for our future. The demand for greener products and services has never been stronger, and this is especially true of the younger generations that are looking ahead with genuine concern and alarm. Their passion for sustainability is forcing companies to make changes and this is a good thing.  Brands that don’t share their values or fail to demonstrate their same sense of urgency have no long-term future. 

‘Epson is fully committed to the SDGs. They are integrated into our mid and long-term plans; they are guiding us as a compass for our business and are setting the direction for all our sustainability actions. Our Green Choice report shows precisely and transparently how we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to a sustainable long-term future. We still have much more to do. Both as a business and as individuals, we need to show that we are committed, accountable and transparent. At Epson we are dedicated to ethical leadership and good governance through value-based strategies and positive actions for a sustainable business in a better world.’