Epson receives EcoVadis Gold rating for sustainability

Epson has been awarded the Gold rating for sustainability by independent platform EcoVadis. The rating, which reflects Epson’s commitment to achieving the highest possible international CSR standards, also acknowledges Epson as being “outstanding” in both the Environment and Sustainable Procurement categories and complements other standards the Company adheres to including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, and ISO 26000.

EcoVadis – an independent, trusted and collaborative platform – uses a unique CSR assessment methodology that covers 150 purchasing categories, 110 countries, and 21 CSR indicators. The process to achieve the ranking included reviewing and assessing Epson in terms of its people, processes and platforms, which resulted in outstanding recognition of its policies, actions and results in both the Environment and Sustainable Procurement space, placing Epson in the top 5% of companies for sustainability.

“With an increasing demand for businesses to demonstrate the highest possible CSR and sustainability credentials, I am incredibly proud that the work we have been doing as a company has been recognised by this Gold EcoVadis rating. At Epson, we have long believed that businesses have a collective responsibility to build a sustainable future, and this includes every step of the supply chain – from factory to office floor. We strive to embody this in both our own CSR efforts as well as the technology we produce that helps businesses meet their own sustainability goals and all with positive benefits to people, the planet and business processes,” says Henning Ohlsson, CSR Director, Epson Deutschland GmbH.

Epson believes that seemingly small changes can have a big impact on the environmental and social footprint of an organisation, which is why its four innovation areas – printing, robotics, visual communications, and wearables – are centred on supporting the needs of businesses across Europe.

In fact, Epson’s range of business inkjet printing technology is helping customers reach their environmental, financial and societal aspirations. If companies make the choice to invest in inkjet printing technologies, they can achieve up to 99% less waste, zero ozone gasses, 92% less CO₂, and 96% less energy compared with using a laser printer¹. Put into context that means if all businesses switched to inkjet printing, enough energy would be saved up to run at least 507,000 households across Europe .

In addition, Epson is making technologies in its four innovation areas more accessible. Epson’s entry-level robots and its ‘pick and grip’ Force Sensor capabilities are contributing to the rejuvenation of manufacturing in Europe and therefore reducing the need for transportation and waste as goods can be produced more locally. Through visual technology innovations and wearables (such as interactive projectors and Moverio smart glasses), environmental impact is reduced as more and more people are enabled by video-conferencing and other virtual communication solutions limiting travel and the carbon footprint of organisations.

This drive to produce efficient, compact and precision technologies (Sho Sho Sei) is grounded in the Japanese value of Monozukuri – the art and science of manufacturing. It is because of these constant efforts of improvement that Epson’s latest innovation, PaperLab, has come to fruition. PaperLab is a closed-circuit system that recycles waste paper in the office using virtually no water, creates an office ‘eco-system’ that can reduce CO₂ emissions; increase savings on collection, disposal and logistics; and save water, which is used in high volumes in traditional recycling processes.

Epson has been working hard since the early 2000s to integrate life-cycle thinking into full product delivery and by introducing innovative technology into the workplace that enhances efficiency in printing solutions, visual communications, wearables and robotics. More information on Epson’s history on this can be found in its recently published 2017 Sustainability Report. The report highlights the company’s progress and key achievements in the areas of environmental performance, social responsibility and corporate governance globally.

To find out more about Epson’s CSR work visit our dedicated CSR page here.

1) As tested by BLI over two months to February 2017, against a selection of competing machines, as commissioned by Epson. For more information visit: http://www.epson.eu/maketheswitch