News Releases
Konica Minolta’s CO2 Emissions Reduction Targets Approved
by the Science Based Targets Initiative
– Committed to Reducing Emissions by 60% from Fiscal 2005 by 2030 –
Tokyo (March 6, 2017) - The CO2 emissions reduction targets set by Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) to limit global warming to less than 2℃ compared to pre-industrial temperatures were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which is an international initiative, as science-based targets on February 13, 2017.
Konica Minolta commits to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from across its value chain (scopes 1, 2 and 3) 60% by 2030, from 2005 levels. The scope 3 reductions cover purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution, and the use of sold products.
The SBTi was jointly established by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2015 to attain science-based targets (SBTs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby limit global warming to less than 2℃ compared to pre-industrial temperatures. Of 212 companies around the world that have declared that they have established SBTs, 38 companies including Konica Minolta received approval for their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.*
Konica Minolta’s CO2 Emissions Reduction Targets
In Eco Vision 2050, which was formulated in 2009, Konica Minolta set targets to reduce CO2 emissions throughout a product’s lifecycle by 80% by 2050 compared to fiscal 2005 levels. The Medium-Term Environmental Plan 2016 (a milestone for achieving the vision) set a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 40％ compared to fiscal 2005 levels. The targets are expected to be attained by fiscal 2016.
The SBTi has approved Konica Minolta’s new target to reduce CO2 emissions by 60％ compared to fiscal 2005 levels by 2030, which was set using backcasting based on Eco Vision 2050. To attain the new target, a process is underway to formulate the Medium-Term Environmental Plan 2019 from fiscal 2017 in close coordination with the Medium-Term Business Plan.
Konica Minolta’s Approach to Setting CO2 Emissions Targets
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 were 49 billion t-CO2, which, divided by the world’s population of 6.4 billion people, amounts to 7.66 t-CO2 per person per year. The amount of greenhouse gases that the earth can absorb naturally is thought to be 11.4 billion t-CO2. Divided by the projected world population of 9.2 billion people in 2050, this means the earth could naturally absorb 1.24 t-CO2 per person in 2050. This is a reduction of approximately 80% from the 7.66 t-CO2 per person amount in 2004.
The CO2 emissions targets set in Eco Vision 2050 are based on an approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per person to a level that the earth can absorb naturally. The targets to be achieved by 2030 have been set using backcasting from Eco Vision 2050. A process is underway to establish the Medium-Term Environmental Plan 2019 using backcasting from the targets to be achieved by 2030.
Environmental Management at Konica Minolta
Under the philosophy “The Creation of New Value,” Konica Minolta has been promoting environmental management focusing on creating new value, in both social and economic terms, by continuing efforts to reduce environmental impact in a manner compatible with corporate growth over the entire range of its business activities.
To attain Eco Vision 2050, Konica Minolta sets specific targets in the areas of both environmental value, including reduction of environmental impact, and corporate value such as increased sales and cost reduction in the Medium-Term Environmental Plan 2016, in conjunction with its business plan.
To cope with the issue of climate change, Konica Minolta has been steadily implementing global measures by developing energy-saving product designs and solutions; promoting energy conservation and improving production efficiency at production plants; and offering various environmental technologies and know-how refined through many years of operation to customers and suppliers in order to reduce CO2 emissions in all areas of society through collaboration.
Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta, as a global company, aims to work with all of its stakeholders to reduce environmental impact, thereby contributing solutions to climate change and other global environmental problems and creating greater shared value.
*As of March 2, 2017