Canon Middle East to renew green vows to mark Earth Day 2011

Canon Middle East, leader in imaging solutions, has announced that it will continue its environmental protection efforts this year with its participation in ‘Earth Hour,’ a global climate awareness campaign that will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (local time)   under the auspices of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 

Continuing its internal and external initiatives to promote environmental stewardship, Canon Middle East will turn off non-essential sources of light at its local office, including its building signage. The company is also urging employees to switch off their electrical appliances and lights at home to show corporate and global solidarity against the causes of climate change. 

This year, Canon Middle East is encouraging its employees to go beyond the “Earth Hour” and prompting them to make a pledge that they will take long term actions towards environment conservation. Accordingly, all Canon Middle East employees signed an undertaking specifying a certain action that they commit to take henceforth to protect the environment.

Another activity that Canon Middle East has introduced this year to mark Earth Hour is an internal photo competition – under the theme ‘Every hour has a story, what is yours?’. As part of this activity, employees will turn off lights and will be encouraged to join different Earth Hour-related activities taking place across the country. They will be required to take a photograph that best depicts the way they celebrated Earth Hour. Photographs could range from images of various landmarks such as Burj Khalifa or Burj Al Arab with all lights turned off, or an image of Canon Middle East employees taking part in the walk organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Employees sending the best photographs will win exciting prizes.   

“This year WWF is encouraging all Earth Hour participants to extend their support beyond 60 minutes and commit to long-term approaches to reducing environmental damage. We made great strides in adopting eco-friendly technologies and practices last year and we aim to push our environmental agenda even further in the coming months. Earth Hour perfectly complements our sustainability initiatives in 2011,” said Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications Manager, Canon Middle East. 

Canon Middle East undertook an extensive sustainability campaign in 2010 that saw its carbon footprint significantly diminish in several major areas of its business operations. It was also actively involved in various eco-themed events, including Earth Hour 2010, and the ‘UAE Clean Up Drive’ organized by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG). Canon Middle East has also successfully carried forward the momentum of its environmental campaign to 2011 through its involvement in major initiatives such as the Can Collection campaign by EEG. Earlier this year, the company also signed a licensing agreement with Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF (EWS-WWF) for the X-MARK 1 solar-powered business calculator that is manufactured using residual parts from Canon digital cameras. Under the terms of the agreement, Canon Middle East will donate 10 per cent from the sale of the X-MARK 1 to EWS-WWF to help finance its environmental conservation and education programs.