Environmental

Conservation of a natural world

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Tackling global environmental challenges together

 

 
The rapid changes taking place in society and in the built and natural environments are having a profound effect on the environment. All of us — governments, NGOs, corporations and individuals — have a shared responsibility to protect and preserve the environmental balance.
All these problems have led to the threat of extinction of around a million animal and plant species — many within decades, and more than ever before in human history.  

Climate change

Global temperatures in 2022 were 0.89°C above the average baseline figures 1951–1980. Warming above 1.5°C risks further sea level rises, extreme weather, biodiversity loss and species extinction, as well as food scarcity and worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide. 

Fossil fuels

Coal, oil and gas burned for energy are non-renewable and currently provide around 80% of the world's energy. Emissions from fossil fuels are the main cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry. 

Deforestation

Every year 10 million hectares of forests are lost through deforestation. As well as reducing the environment’s ability to absorb excess CO2 created by human activities, deforestation actually adds to CO2 levels. The deforestation problem is worsened by the hotter, drier weather caused by climate change that helps to create conditions that extend forest fire seasons. 

Pollution

Global pollution, such as plastics in the oceans (8 million tonnes are dumped every year) and the ingress of microplastics into the ecosystem, is supplemented by regional issues such as the pollution of land and fresh water supplies from human activities.

 

Environmental initiatives at Konica Minolta 

 
As part of our broader ESG commitments, Konica Minolta is committed to contributing positively to its own environmental impact and that of its customers and partners. Our activities on climate change, the circular economy, and cutting pollution are integral to our commitment and include the following.

Climate change and climate mitigation

  • A commitment to net zero. For example, we've committed to becoming net zero by 2050, driving our global CO2 emissions to zero compared to fiscal year 2005 levels in procurement, production, distribution, sales and service and product use.  
  • Switching to renewable energy to reduce CO2 and the production of other harmful greenhouse gases. As a member of RE100, we're committed to obtaining 100% of the electricity we use from renewable energy sources by 2050. Konica Minolta's European headquarters and many subsidiaries already use 100% (or nearly 100%) green electricity, as do three of our factories.
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Resources and the circular economy

  • In 2050, we aim to make our products from more than 90% circulated resources (recycled materials and biomaterials). We will achieve this by: 
    • Increased reuse of plastics. For instance, we use of up to 61% recycled materials in our toner bottles and up to 44% in the casings of our office print devices. 
    • Refurbishment, resale and reuse of products. In Europe, we've established a programme for refurbishment of MFPs according to strict standards; parts of used collected toner bottles and cartridges are refurbished and refilled throughout Europe.  
    • Better recycling and resources usage. In the 2021 fiscal year, 11,200 tonnes of end-of-life office equipment were taken back, 99% of which were recycled. As part of the World on Loan Program, discarded consumables are collected and recycled across the UK.  
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Pollution

  • Cutting pollution by reducing transportation and making it more efficient. Where possible, we're trying to shift transport across Europe from air and road to rail or water. 
    • 90% of our goods transported from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to our main warehouse in Emmerich, Germany, are carried on barges on the Rhine.  
    • 40% of transport from Emmerich to Italy is by rail.
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Environmental Policy 

Konica Minolta's environmental-related activities in the UK are guided by its UK Environmental and Sustainability policy and our European Environmental Policy:
  1. Protect the environment together with our employees, our customers and business partners. 
  2. Comply with all relevant legal and other environmental requirements. 
  3. Reduce the environmental load especially caused by marketing, distribution and product use. 
  4. Protect the climate by using renewable energy or reducing greenhouse gas emissions that derive from our business activities. Those greenhouse gases that cannot be avoided by using renewable energy or reduced shall be compensated by supporting climate offset projects. 
  5. Supporting the concept of a Circular Economy by minimising consumption of natural resources and promoting recovery and recycling. 
  6. Create and promote new value with regard to products and services that reduce the environmental burden. 
  7. Work with business partners that demonstrate implementation of sustainable development practices where possible. 
  8. Communicate environmental information effectively and transparently towards our customers and interested stakeholders as well as within our organisation. 
  9. Continuously evaluate and improve our environmental performance and processes through the setting of objectives and targets. 
  10. Review and audit our business activities an a regular basis to measure our environmental performance and compliance. 


Environment management system (EMS) 

Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK has implemented an EMS to ensure the impact of its business continues to be reduced. The EMS has been certified to ISO 14001:2015 d since 2017 in recognition of its systematic approach to improving environmental performance. 


 

Konica Minolta’s products are certified with proven labels & standards

Blue Angel



The Blue Angel mark was established in 1978. It is now one of the best-known ecological labels. Konica Minolta systems were the first laser-based copier systems worldwide de to be awarded in 1992. Nearly all of the current office devices sold in Germany carry this label. All devices comply with the requirements of the strict German label even those sold outside Germany.

De-inking



The removal of ink or toner from paper is crucial for the production of recycled paper. This is guaranteed with Konica Minolta’s toners (e.g.Simitri® HD & Simitri® V), which achieved top results in the INGEDE deinking test. 

ECO LEAF



ECO LEAF is a Japanese label that provides information on the environmental impact of a product, based on quantitative measurement of the environmental performance through the product’s entire lifecycle, from raw materials procurement to production, sales, usage, disposal and recycling. Konica Minolta provides environmental impact data relating to most of its equipment through the ECO LEAF. 

Food Contact



The product properties of our Simitri® toner mean that TÜV Rheinland recognises it as 100% harmless for indirect food contact. This food safety certification allows it to be used for applications such as food packaging or food label printing.

EN 71 (Toy Safety)

EN71 – Sunchine Inspection Service

This norm ensures that toys, especially those made for children, are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards. The European standard EN 71 is a broad framework of very different requirements. Konica Minolta printouts were tested according EN 71-3 (Specification for migration of certain elements) and EN 71-9 (Organic chemical compounds – Requirement) successfully. That means that a toy can contain printed parts, like a puzzle piece and the printout will be safe. In 2021, we started with AccurioJet KM-1e, AccurioPress C14000 and AccurioPress C7100. The first devices can be used for this purpose and the list of tested devices will be enhanced over the years. 

Seawater resistance



There is a British standard for label and for colorants, which ensures your imprint will survive a certain time being expose to seawater. By using the corresponding label and our awarded devices you will still be able to read the content of your printed message. 

Fogra

The Fogra VPS (Validation Printing System) certification is aimed at digital printing system providers and serves as proof of the conformity of their product with the criteria of ISO 12647-8. The print production devices are checked for various printing conditions covering a wide range of capabilities. These included PDF/X conformance, proofing substrate colour, gloss and fluorescence, colour accuracy, uniformity, permanence, and light fastness. Other factors were fading, long and short-term repeatability, print rub resistance, colorimetric tone value transfer, tone value reproduction limits, image register and resolving power and margin information. Print Providers benefit from a proven and certified production devices with the guarantee of highest print quality and reliability. 

Document authenticity by PTS

 

There is an Ordinance for Lawyers and Notaries in Germany (DONot), § 29 that gives the framework for making manipulation to printouts impossible. Documents should be very fine and detailed; also, every attempt to change the content of prints must be visible. The majority of our devices is able to fulfil these criteria.  

An iterative process 

We've been working to reduce our environmental impact for many years but are well aware it's an iterative process that doesn't end. We know there are areas where we have the potential to improve, and we're committed to doing so: we view our current activities as a starting point on which to build.
 

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