ISO 14001

In a similar way to ensuring our products meet the toughest standards, our factories and several sales organisations around the world are certified according to ISO 14001, the internationally recognised Environmental Management Standard.

Efforts have been made to switch to consolidated certification for the entire Canon group. We want to apply environmental considerations to every aspect of the product lifecycle including planning, design, development, purchasing of parts and materials, manufacturing, distribution, usage, collection and recycling.

The ultimate goals are to:

1. Avoid risks

2. Contribute to cost cutting

3. Achieve greater product differentiation, and

4. Raise corporate value.

As the first step in achieving these goals, we have already obtained consolidated certification covering Canon business sites and affiliated companies in Japan, along with our European sales companies. We plan to completely switch to group certification that covers all overseas production sites and sales companies by 2007.