24 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2024 - Issue 347 ENVIRONMENT / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Epson has announced that all electricity used at Epson Group sites around the world will now be sourced from renewable sources. Epson says this makes it the first company in the domestic manufacturing industry to complete the transition to renewable electricity at all of its worldwide sites. The switch started in Japan where a number of industrial manufacturers are headquartered. The company committed to the switch in March 2021 and has since initiated the change throughout sites in Japan and then all remaining sites around the world. The Epson Group consumes approximately 876 GWh3 of electricity per year. By sourcing renewables to cover this demand, Epson expects to reduce its yearly carbon dioxide emissions by around 400,000 tonnes. Yasunori Ogawa, global president for Epson, says: “For eight decades, Epson has demonstrated a proactive approach to environmental action. We have maintained the founder's commitment to preserving the cleanliness of nearby Lake Suwa and became the world’s first company to eliminate CFCs [Chlorofluorocarbons] from our manufacturing processes. “Now we have successfully completed the switch to 100% renewable electricity at all Epson Group sites in just two years and ten months since declaring our commitment to doing so in 2021. This will not only help us to achieve our own goals but will also help to facilitate a broader adoption of renewable electricity within society by spreading awareness.” In addition to the latest change, Epson will promote the wider adoption of renewable energy and power generation. Ogawa concludes: “Our goal of realising social sustainability is a bigger issue, one fraught with difficulty, but we will act with determination to address the issues with a spirit of creativity and challenge." Epson achieves 100% renewable electricity Epson’s latest environmental measure is expected to reduce its yearly carbon dioxide emissions by around 400,000 tonnes By David Osgar UK national paper merchant, Denmaur, has set out an ambitious target of becoming net-zero by 2045. This target comes after the company became the first UK national paper merchant to validate its near-term carbon reduction target through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Denmaur has now used the same framework to validate its net-zero target of 2045. This target will see Denmaur reduce its total scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by a minimum of 90% by 2045 with any remaining emissions neutralised. In addition, the company has pledged to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030. This 2045 target is five years ahead of the global deadline first defined by the landmark Paris Agreement. Danny Doogan, marketing and sustainability director at Denmaur, explains: “We targeted 2045 based on the net-zero work and aspirations of our customers as well as the decarbonisation plans and initiatives that are starting to come through from paper and board manufacturers.” A manufacturer which announced plans to switch some of its mills into green paper plants last year is Burgo including Burgo Adrennes in Belgium where Denmaur’s flagship Amadeus range is produced. Whilst the company’s net-zero target appears ambitious, Doogan says: “during discussions with several manufacturers in the last year, it’s apparent there is a strong intent to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, fossil fuel-based energy in paper production – a significant Scope 3 element of our carbon footprint.” In order to measure its greenhouse gas emissions in line with leading global standards such as Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO14064-1, Denmaur uses carbon specialists Nero Carbon. Greg Selfe, director of Nero Carbon, adds: “Denmaur is a fantastic example of a major company proactively measuring and reducing its carbon footprint to stay ahead of both environmental regulation and its competition.” In addition to reducing its overall carbon emissions, Denmaur will also continue to promote and invest in World Land Trust’s Carbon Balanced Paper programme. Denmaur commits to net-zero by 2045 Denmaur has set out an ambitious net-zero target for 2045 after becoming the first UK national paper merchant to validate its near-term carbon reduction target through SBTi By Carys Evans
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