Canon Canada Once Again Recognized as One of Canada’s Greenest Employers

Company earns honours for environmental leadership for sixth year in a row.

BRAMPTON, Ontario (April 16, 2024) – Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2024. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the company has been recognized for leading the way in creating a culture of environmental awareness, developing exceptional sustainable initiatives and attracting people to the organization because of its environmental leadership.

Canon Canada’s commitment to sustainability comes from its corporate Kyosei philosophy, which speaks to the importance of working together for the greater common good. Its dedication is also a reflection of Canon’s global Environmental Charter, which spells out eight fundamental policies to ensure the company operates as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen.

“We are honoured to be named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for a sixth time,” says Mikio Takagi, President and CEO of Canon Canada. “This recognition reflects the efforts of every employee at Canon Canada. We actively engage our employees on environmental issues and encourage them to make green choices both at work and at home. Our entire team is committed to continually improving our sustainability practices, programs and initiatives. Our efforts are ongoing, and we aim to build on the success we’ve achieved together so far.”

Now in its 17th year, Canada’s Greenest Employers is an editorial competition organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project in partnership with the Globe and Mail. The editors evaluate and select the recipients based on four sets of criteria: unique environmental initiatives and programs developed; success in reducing their environmental footprint; employee involvement in programs and whether they contribute any unique skills; and whether their initiatives have become linked to the employer’s public identity and whether they attract new people to the organization.

Canon Canada’s environmental initiatives and endeavours include the following:

• LEED® Gold for New Construction and Major Renovations 2009 certification for its corporate headquarters, in Brampton, Ontario. Surrounded by expansive, community-accessible green space, the building includes elements that encourage collaboration, foster well-being and promote practices that reduce its carbon footprint.
   
• State-of-the-art Brampton Headquarters designed to reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability, with features including:
  • Energy-efficient lighting throughout the building;
  • A rooftop greywater system that saves Canon Canada approximately 20 percent of its annual domestic city water usage each year – about 4.5 million bottles worth of water;
  • A sophisticated kitchen digestion system that helps divert and reduce organic waste from landfills;
  • Dedicated carpool and bike-parking spots to encourage more efficient and eco-friendly commuting; and
  • 13 electric vehicle charging stations and 21 reserved spaces for lower emission vehicles to incentivize employees to practice a more sustainable lifestyle.
     
• A partnership with Earth Rangers, a kids’ environmental and conservation organization that shares the company’s commitment to environmental education and responsibility in Canadian youth. The company continued its support of Earth Rangers assemblies, which bring environmental awareness – either in-person or virtually – to thousands of elementary school students across the country. Canon Canada sponsored 42 assemblies for the 2023-2024 school year, empowering nearly 9,000 students in grades 1 to 6 to act on important environmental issues. The company also furthered its support of the Backyard Biologist Mission and Photo Contest. More than 5,000 members completed the mission to identify local flora and fauna, and more than 1,700 kids submitted their photos of the natural world. Three grand-prize winners each received a Canon Rebel DSLR.
   
• The Canon Canada Environmental Studies Scholarship, presented annually to students at York University, the University of British Columbia and Université de Sherbrooke. The scholarship helps the universities provide financial assistance to students pursuing careers committed to sustainability and protecting the environment.
   
• Branch Out, a volunteer initiative that gives employees the opportunity to create green spaces and sustainable environments around the communities where they work and live. Over the past 12 months, Canon Canada employees volunteered nearly 750 hours at 12 events in 10 cities. Since the program began in 2014, employees have planted 36,950 trees, shrubs and perennials, removed 18,700 square metres of invasive species and restored more than 4,300 square metres of land. Canon Canada also sponsored a new rain garden at a local elementary school. More than 30 employees – overseen by 145 students and in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation – spent the afternoon planting 142 trees and 860 wildflowers.
   
• The Canon Green Team,a company-wide, cross-departmental committee dedicated to activating, reviewing and enhancing Canon Canada’s environmental initiatives, as well as promoting enviro-consciousness among employees. In the past few years, the team spearheaded the installation of filtered hydration water stations in the staff cafeteria at the Brampton headquarters, which eliminates 8,000 plastic water bottles from landfills each year, and the elimination of disposable water bottles and straws at all Canon Canada locations. In 2023, the team more than doubled its membership, furthering its reach and impact. In addition to leading Branch Out events, the team expanded the company’s annual employee recycling event to more offices across the country and provided financial support to Éco-Nature for its Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, which aims to rehabilitate injured native turtles from all around Quebec and return them to the wild.
   
• Electronics recycling programs that encourage employees to responsibly recycle their no-longer-needed electronics. In the past 10 years, Canon Canada employees have diverted over 6,500 kilograms of consumer electronics, clothing and textiles from landfills. Dedicated drop-off bins for used batteries, toner cartridges and electronics are set up at multiple locations across the country.
   
• Participation in multiple electronics stewardship programs across the country, including Circular Materials, Éco Enterprises Québec and Electronics Products Stewardship Canada.
   
• International ISO 14001 Certification at multiple offices across Canada. The standard certifies Canon Canada has implemented, maintained and constantly enhanced its environment management system, and ensured it meets or exceeds all environmental compliance obligations.
   
• A Green Procurement Policy that ensures the company procures parts, products and services from vendors who are in line with Canon Canada’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.

About Canon Canada Inc.

Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canon Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. Inc., is a leading provider of consumer and business-to-business digital imaging solutions. Innovation and cutting-edge technology have been essential ingredients in Canon’s success. Canon Canada Inc. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 per cent Canadian-based service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon Canada Inc. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.

For more information, please visit canon.ca or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter (X) or Instagram using @CanonCanada.

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Canon Canada Inc.
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