The honor recognizes the company’s contribution to global warming mitigation.
For over 30 years, copier manufacturers like Canon have contributed to environmental preservation through multifunction printer (MFP) refurbishment programs. These programs involve collecting used MFPs from the market, restoring them to near-new condition by replacing worn or less durable parts, and reselling them. Components with minimal wear, such as core frame elements or those related to certain features, can remain in use even after five years, ensuring resource efficiency.
This approach reduces CO2 emissions associated with manufacturing, which promotes decarbonization and resource circulation throughout the product lifecycle. In light of the increasing impact of climate change—evident in the rise of extreme weather events such as storms and floods—technologies that enable the refurbishment of MFPs by replacing only essential parts play a crucial role in environmental protection. Such initiatives remain a core focus for copier manufacturers.
On October 25, Canon, in collaboration with its subsidiary Canon Ecology Industry Inc., received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 2024 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Promotion Awards, hosted by the 3Rs Promotion Council. The award recognized Canon’s significant contributions to expanding its MFP refurbishment business.
Canon’s Refurbishment Initiatives
Canon’s refurbishment journey, which began in 1992, led to the establishment, in 2004, of Canon Ecology Industry Inc. as the environmental hub for the Canon Group’s reuse and recycling activities, including MFPs, printers, and consumables. Since 2005, this subsidiary has spearheaded MFP refurbishment efforts. In 2008, these initiatives earned Canon the President’s Award from the 3Rs Promotion Council.
The 2024 award celebrates Canon and Canon Ecology Industry Inc.’s achievements in maintaining high standards across three critical areas of the refurbishment business: environmental performance (achieving high part reuse rates), delivering quality and performance comparable to new products, and maintaining cost efficiency. These efforts have sustained the program’s success over the long term. Notably, the proportion of color models among refurbished units rose from 27% in 2008 to 93% in 2023, reflecting a significant shift toward refurbishing more complex color MFPs.
In July 2024, Canon introduced the refurbished imageRUNNER ADVANCE C3530F III-RG, which achieved an industry-leading part reuse rate of up to 95.5%, setting a new benchmark for environmental performance.
Key to this success is Canon’s innovative use of market data. By analyzing operational data from collected MFPs, Canon developed an automated system that generates a refurbishment chart identifying parts requiring replacement based on the unit’s serial number. This automation has significantly streamlined the refurbishment process.
Canon also implemented platform design principles during the development of new models. This approach enhances the reusability of parts, simplifies refurbishment, and increases the interchangeability of components across different products. By standardizing disassembly and refurbishment procedures, Canon has further improved efficiency, ensuring that its refurbishment operations remain both environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
