EIZO & The Environment
The EIZO Group is aware that one of our key responsibilities is to conduct business considering the environment. We strive to contribute to the sustainable development of our society by being conscious of the impact our business has on the environment. We will continue our commitments to the environment in the effective use of resources, climate change mitigation, environmental protection (including the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems), prevention of pollution, and reduction of other environmental risks.
EIZO's contributions to environmental protection
- Certified environmental management systems
- Conformity with the latest environmental standards
- Improvement of the power-saving functions
- Environmentally friendly design
- Sustainable packaging and product recycling
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
- Continuous optimisation within the supply chain
- Independent monitoring of chemical substances
1. Certified environmental management systems
We have been operating the Environment and Energy Management System under our Energy and Environmental Basic Policy since obtaining ISO14001 certification in July 1998. We have also implemented measures for generating less waste and reducing resource and energy consumption. Moreover, we have achieved progress in other areas by operating the system, which sets targets that explicitly respond to the trend toward environmentally sound products and the growing public interest in eco-products.
EIZO has commitments to environmental protection initiatives in place that comply with the revised ISO 14001:2015 standards under the leadership and control of the director responsible for environmental management. These initiatives are linked with management policies and business strategies set by top management.
The Corporate Safety Section of the General Affairs Department is responsible for promoting our corporate activities while also managing the energy consumption of our facilities and equipment, chemical substances and waste. The Certified Standards Section of the Technology Management Department is responsible for our products, gathering environmental information from around the world and promoting the development of environmentally sound products. Our ISO 14001 certification was maintained and updated in fiscal 2018 after a third-party institution conducted an external audit. Internal audits and customer-led audits concerning chemical substance management have also been carried out in response to increased awareness of chemical substances in recent years.
In the 2019 financial year, we also received ISO 50001 certification from an independent body.
2. Conformity with the latest environmental standards
In our effort to proactively develop environmentally sound products, we observe the legal requirements of Japan and other countries and comply with major voluntary environmental standards in each market for our flagship products.
In Europe a number of regulations are being enforced, including:
- The WEEE Directive (collection and recycling of discarded electrical and electronic equipment)
- The RoHS Directive (use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment)
- The REACH Regulation (registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals)
- The ErP Directive (eco-designing for energy-related products)
These regulations were developed in Europe; however, they have been playing an important role in encouraging other countries and regions to take similar steps. Our products comply with these regulations.
We also respond to environmental labelling standards such as:
- TCO Certified Generation 9 (international comprehensive standards for monitors)
- EPEAT (international environmental standard for PCs/monitors)
- ENERGY STAR® (energy efficiency standard established in the United States)
- PC Green Label (Japanese environmental standard for PCs/monitors)
In addition, we are actively involved in the development of TCO, ENERGY STAR® and PC Green Label.
3. Improvement of the power-saving functions
We equip our monitors with numerous features that reduce power consumption and CO2 emissions.
Swipe the tabs below to the right to reveal more >
Cost savings of up to 30%
EcoView Optimizer recognises image content and reduces the backlight fully automatically without reducing the image quality. This lowers power consumption.
Saving energy by powering down
All FlexScan monitors have a mechanical power switch. If you switch off your monitor using the power switch, then your monitor will not use any energy whatsoever. But each model also uses 0.5 W or less in standby mode.
More than just an ergonomic feature
Since Auto EcoView constantly adjusts display brightness to the ambient light, you can enjoy energy savings of up to 50% in comparison with a monitor operating at full brightness.
Perfect for multi-screen operation
The EIZO Software Screen InStyle allows you to manage your power consumption and further calibrations for multi-screen operation. System administrators can use the server application to remotely control all monitors connected to a computer. This means every EIZO monitor in the network can be administered centrally.
4. Environmentally friendly design
For our monitor housings, we use plastics and paints containing flame retardants to a limited extent. In this way, we reduce the negative impact on the environment and people and improve the recyclability of our products.
Through years of research, we have achieved a smooth, homogeneous colour and texture in the monitor housings without using varnish.
For many of our FlexScan EV monitors, we already use more than 60% recyclate for the plastics from the housing.
5. Sustainable packaging and product recycling
We use cardboard made from recycled paper for the packaging of our products and the transport pads of the FlexScan EV monitors are also made from 100% recycled materials. In addition, the cables are wrapped in environmentally friendly cellulose film instead of plastic bags. This reduces the amount of plastic waste entering the environment, conserves resources and promotes the reuse of materials.
In Japan, parts of Europe and the USA, we take back used monitors for recycling to fulfil our responsibility beyond the useful life of our products.
Left: conventional packaging / Right: environmentally friendly materials
6. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Reducing greenhouse gases is an urgent global concern. EIZO recognises that the majority of our CO2 emissions result from our electricity consumption and therefore intends to achieve carbon neutrality by the 2040 financial year.
Overview of the environmental impact of our business activities
CO2 emissions and energy use
Targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions
By switching to renewable energy, we want to help reduce CO2 emissions. In 2016, we installed 715 solar modules with a capacity of 180 kW on the roof of our factory. In addition, we installed 1014 more 250 kW solar modules on the ground nearby.
The modules provide an electricity yield of 373 000 kWh per year. This allows us to save 239 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
7. Continuous optimisation within the supply chain
We have established our own EIZO Green Procurement Standards and prefer to procure environmentally friendly products, components and materials (including packaging) that meet our quality, functional and cost requirements.
8. Independent monitoring of chemical substances
For all components used, we prohibit or monitor the use of prohibited chemical substances in accordance with key environmental standards and relevant legislation.
