OKI Data Corporation, which markets its products under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, on September 30 announced that it has made its three main manufacturing facilities "CarbonZero" in a bid to slow down global climate change. The company will achieve this through purchasing Verified Emission Reduction (VERs), offsetting CO2 emitted from these facilities. Moreover, the company's carbon offsetting initiative has been selected as "Carbon Offset Model Business" by the Ministry of Environment in Japan.
The three main manufacturing facilities are located in Ayutthaya (Thailand), Shenzhen (China) and Fukushima (Japan), which manufacture printers/MFPs shipped to the global market. Starting October 1 2009, the company plans to offset the total CO2 emitted from these facilities during the previous fiscal year by way of purchasing VER credits that are held by CO2 balance. The offsetting will continue until 2012 which is in line with the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol.
For this year, the company will take fiscal year 2007 CO2 emissions from these facilities, 11,230 tonnes, as the baseline to determine the amount to purchase. The carbon offsetting projects that OKI Data are supporting includes co2balance's established "African Energy Efficient Stove Project". The project builds brick stoves for families in Kenya, reducing the amount of firewood – and carbon emissions – by half. In addition to the carbon savings the project has social and community benefits, providing families with a cheaper and cleaner method of cooking.
The VERs purchased will be retired on respective registries by December 2009. OKI Data will assess its emissions for fiscal year 2008 and should there be differences in the amount purchased, the company will adjust this with fiscal year 2009 purchase amount.
The announcement follows a carbon footprint audit by co2balance to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions from the entire company, using the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol. As a result of the assessment, the company's Group total CO2 emissions for fiscal year 2007 was 32,472 tonnes. The CO2 to be offset under the "CarbonZero manufacturing facilities" initiative represent 35 percent of its Group total. The work is part of the company's strong commitment to reduce its Greenhouse Gas Emissions, with an emissions reduction target of 6 percent by 2012 against 2007 figures. This target is set in line with the objective of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) to stabilize the Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
As a result of the assessment and taking a more aggressive approach, OKI Data has voluntarily taken the decision to offset the emissions from their three main manufacturing facilities, which generate the large portion of CO2 emissions in its manufacturing industry. To do this they have invested in a range of carbon offsetting projects through co2balance, balancing out the factory's carbon emissions to make them "CarbonZero".
Harushige Sugimoto, president and CEO of OKI Data Corporation, said, "OKI Data has been working with co2balance since 2008 to manage our carbon emissions. This began with our European headquarters in 2007, and has now evolved to offset our major printer manufacturing facilities. The offsetting work is part of a wider plan to make OKI Data's manufacturing facilities CarbonZero, ultimately providing printers/MFPs manufactured at CO2 offset facilities to our worldwide customers."
OKI Data's "Carbon Zero Emissions Facilities" initiative has been selected as "Carbon Offset Model" by the Ministry of Environment in Japan meaning that it is been regarded as an appropriate and effective way to manage carbon. The company plans to promote this by placing a "Manufactured at a Carbon Zero Facility" sticker to its products and facilitate businesses to understand the importance of managing their carbon.
About OKI Data Corporation
OKI Data Corporation, which markets its products under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, specializes in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing business printing solutions which empower organizations to communicate more effectively. As a market leader in the global color printer market, OKI Printing Solutions has representation in 120 countries worldwide offering innovative and leading edge products and services. Its annual turnover for FY08 is 161.6 billion yen and sales are divided between 54 percent EMEA, 22 percent Americas, 18 percent Asia and Oceania and 6 percent Others. OKI Printing Solutions is the brand name of OKI Data Corporation, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Oki Electric Industry Company Ltd., established in 1881 and Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer.
About co2balance Group
co2balance's aim is to provide simple, practical and cost-effective ways for individuals and businesses to reduce their 'carbon footprint' and then balance their unavoidable carbon dioxide emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. After providing advice on carbon reduction, co2balance will arrange to offset the residual carbon emissions.
