Brother Group reduces total carbon emissions by 60 per cent in 2007

Brother Group reduces total carbon emissions by 60 per cent in 2007
 
Japanese organisations implement action plan to decrease carbon waste production by 28 per cent in 2010
 
 
Brother Group, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, communication and digital imaging products for homes, SOHOs and enterprise announced that it has achieved a 60 per cent drop in carbon emissions in 2007 compared to its CO2 levels in 1990. The Group has also shaved off its total energy consumption of electricity and fuel use by an equivalent of 31 tons of CO2 emissions in 2007. The tremendous results of the company’s environment-focused initiatives are in line with the launch of a trade-specific voluntary action plan in its global headquarters’ location in Japan, which is set to decrease the industry’s production of carbon wastes by 28 per cent in 2010 against levels in 1991.
 
Among the environmentally-aware representative organisations, which have spearheaded the action plan, are Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association, Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association and the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan. In adherence to industry mandated regulations and as part of Brother Group’s overall corporate ethos identifying environmental concerns as the cornerstone of all its operations, the company has been implementing Environmental Action Plans (EAPs) since 1995, which charts environment-focused activities within a three-year period.
 
“As a major player in the printing, communication and digital imaging market, we fully support the increased efforts by the whole industry towards achieving a more environmentally-sound stance across all phases of operations,” said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf. “We are proud to have surpassed the industry target for cutting back on carbon emissions, which follows our dedication towards clearing the atmosphere of harmful greenhouse gases. Amidst the proliferation of pressing environmental concerns, our activities will not be limited to the observation of laws and regulations but will also entail a strong moral responsibility to prevent pollution and reduce the environmental impact of our processes.“
 
Implemented through its environmental management system, EAP’s are focused towards integrating eco-friendly practices as a significant part of the Group’s operations. Brother’s fifth EAP is centred on chemical management, which mainly involves reducing CO2 emissions to prevent global warming and lessen energy consumption, thus improving manufacturing efficiency. In addition, the current EAP also promotes increased consumer support for products that have acquired an environmental label, which is an indicator that a given product shows consideration for the environment. Environmental labels are standardized by the International Standards Organization (ISO) based on a product’s level of compliance within a specific performance criterion, and as a part of its aim to set relevant environmental targets, the Group has set an objective to achieve labels for all its new products by 2009.
 
“We are aware that there is still plenty more that can be done in terms of integrating environmental care across the entire life cycle of a product. This has been one among the primary concerns of our development department, which is highly focused on conveying our dedication towards the environment through our products. Our goal is to develop the Brother brand as the primary choice for customers who are looking for eco-friendly printing, communication and digital imaging equipment,” concluded Tada.
 
In addition to environment-focused initiatives, Brother Gulf’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities have extended to another important issue, which is combating counterfeit imaging consumables that are flooding the global market. According to Cap Ventures, counterfeit imaging products accounted for 7 per cent of the USD 39.5 billion EMEA imaging consumables market in 2005. Through its partnership with the Imaging Consumables Coalition of Europe (ICCE), an anti-counterfeit coalition in the imaging consumables industry, Brother Gulf joins five other coalition members in conducting the first counterfeit awareness workshops in the UAE.
 
Delivering top-of-the-line solutions, Brother Gulf has continually increased its market share since it began its operations in the Middle East in 1991. Its core products are laser printers, facsimile machines and Multi-Function Centres (MFC’s). The company’s regional hub in Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai supplies spare parts and products as well as provides sales and technical support to its extensive network of distribution partners across the Middle East and African markets. Brother also recently joined other IT companies in forming the Imaging Consumables Coalition of Europe (ICCE), an anti-counterfeit organization, which aims to combat imitation imaging solutions flooding the GCC market.