Canon Sustainability Review

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Canon qZERO® Sustainability Score

3.8 / 5.0

Advanced Sustainability *

April 26, 2025

About Canon

Headquarters: OTA-KU, TOKYO, Japan

Canon: A legacy of precision, guided by purpose

Canon’s story began in 1937 with a vision to bring world-class cameras to Japan. Since then, the brand has become a global leader in imaging and optical technologies — trusted for quality, innovation and long-lasting products. From photography to printing and healthcare, Canon’s reputation rests on its dedication to precision engineering and its “Kyosei” philosophy — living and working together for the common good.

Guided by this purpose, Canon’s environmental commitments are grounded in practical action and long-term thinking. The company designs products with durability and reuse in mind, and reports annually on progress to reduce resource impacts across its global operations. Canon’s focus on innovation is paired with a clear intent: to help shape a more balanced, efficient future through technology that works in harmony with people and planet.

Canon is not just a name — it’s a heritage of performance built for tomorrow’s expectations.

Canon Sustainability Rating is 3.8 out of 5.0

This means Canon are well-above average compared to other companies in the Appliance Manufacturing.

Industry positioning

Canon
Industry average
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.8
2.4
Overall
3.9
2.0
Environmental
3.8
3.7
Social
3.7
3.4
Governance

Canon positioning within the Appliance Manufacturing

Key Sustainability Challenges in Appliance Manufacturing

Manufacturing appliances and imaging technology often comes with significant environmental and social pressures. Common challenges across the industry include high energy and resource use, production emissions, and electronic waste management. Social concerns include working conditions within complex global supply chains and how businesses support the communities they touch. On the governance side, there’s a growing need for clear, ethical conduct and transparent reporting, especially around environmental claims and impact data.

How Canon Measures Up

Canon shows strong progress in tackling these challenges. Environmentally, it focuses on resource efficiency, circularity and reducing emissions, with measurable outcomes tracked across its operations. Its product design also considers reuse and remanufacturing from the start. On the social front, Canon promotes inclusive practices and supports community initiatives through education and youth programmes. Governance-wise, the brand maintains high standards for ethical operations, offering verified disclosures that avoid vague or unproven environmental claims. While there’s always room for progress, Canon performs ahead of many in its sector, helping shoppers make clearer, more confident choices.

How does Canon focus on You?

What Canon offers

Canon brings advanced imaging technology into everyday life. From digital cameras and home printers to multifunction devices and photo paper, Canon offers a wide range of tools that help consumers capture, print, and share what matters. Whether you’re a student, a home office user, or a creative hobbyist, Canon products are designed to be reliable, high-quality, and easy to use.

Balancing sustainability with affordability

Canon aims to make practical sustainability part of everyday choices. Its products are built for long-term use, with many offering energy-saving features and refillable options to reduce waste. The company also supports cartridge recycling and remanufacturing programmes that reduce resource use without adding cost. By focusing on efficiency and durability, Canon helps consumers invest in products made to last, offering better value over time, with less impact on the environment.

Canon Sustainability Rating Breakdown:

Canon Overall Sustainability Rating is 3.8 out of 5.0

Canon’s Approach to Sustainability

Canon takes a practical, holistic approach to sustainability, built on clear action and continuous improvement. Environmentally, the company leads with design choices that reduce resource use, extend product life, and support recycling. For example, its toner cartridge collection programme is one of the longest-running in the world. Canon also monitors its carbon footprint across the product lifecycle, working to cut emissions at every stage.

In society, Canon invests in local education and cultural heritage projects, using its technology and reach to support long-term community benefits. Governance-wise, the company operates with strong ethical oversight and publishes verified reports that show exactly where progress is being made. These initiatives reflect Canon’s intention to design not just better products, but better outcomes for people and the planet.

Canon Environmental Rating is 3.9 out of 5.0

Environmental Practices Summary

Canon shows a strong and ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility. It takes proactive steps to prevent pollution and reduce the environmental impact of its operations, from product design to end-of-life recycling. The brand’s consistent track record in securing credible environmental certifications reflects its alignment with recognised standards and investment in verified progress rather than vague promises.

Canon also explores new ways to make its technologies more efficient, focusing on innovation that supports performance and reduces resource use. While the brand performs well across many areas, some improvements in environmental compliance have been noted in recent reports. Addressing these areas transparently will help strengthen its position and give consumers even more confidence in the sustainability of their choice.

Canon Social Rating is 3.8 out of 5.0

Canon’s Social Sustainability Overview

Canon shows strong performance in its approach to social responsibility, with clear strengths in corporate giving and the value it delivers through its products and services. Its support for education, youth development, and cultural programmes reflects a long-term investment in community wellbeing. Canon also places importance on building an inclusive and skilled workforce, with initiatives that promote training, fair opportunity and diversity across its global operations.

That said, digital security and workplace health and safety require more consistent attention. Enhancing data privacy protections and further strengthening employee wellbeing measures will be essential to building deeper stakeholder trust. Overall, Canon’s social impact is positive and thoughtfully delivered, with clear opportunities to further improve the resilience and transparency of its practices.

Canon Governance Rating is 3.7 out of 5.0

Governance Overview of Canon Inc.

Canon Inc. demonstrates a solid approach to corporate governance, with key strengths in business continuity and sustainability oversight. Its pursuit of recognised governance certifications clearly intends to uphold high operational standards. The company benefits from strong board-level accountability and transparent reporting, helping build trust across its stakeholder network.

Canon’s ethics framework signals a commitment to doing business responsibly, yet there remains room to strengthen certain areas, particularly around compliance protocols. By sharpening internal systems and ensuring consistent adherence to ethical standards, Canon has the opportunity to reinforce its governance performance. As it continues to evolve, clear and measurable improvements in this space will help consumers feel more assured in the integrity behind the brand.

What makes Canon stand out in the Industry?

What makes Canon stand out

Canon stands out for its blend of precision technology and long-lasting design, backed by over 80 years of innovation. The brand’s unique strength lies in delivering reliable performance across imaging and printing, while building sustainability into how products are made, used and returned. From energy-efficient printers to recycling programmes that give cartridges a second life, Canon offers more than just quality — it offers peace of mind. For shoppers looking for trusted technology made to last and designed with the planet in mind, Canon brings a balanced, dependable choice.

So is Canon sustainable?

Discovering Sustainability with Canon

Canon offers more than just high-quality imaging and printing — it delivers purposeful technology shaped by long-term sustainability goals. From reducing carbon emissions to supporting community projects and embracing transparent governance, Canon is working to lighten its environmental and social footprint in ways that truly count.

For shoppers who care about what their choices support, Canon stands out as a brand committed to doing better, not just saying so. It focuses on resource efficiency, product longevity, and verified impact reporting, making it easier to feel confident about what you're buying.

Quick Tips: How to Shop Canon More Sustainably

  • Look for the Green Leaf icon on Canon's UK product pages – it highlights lower-impact products.
  • Choose refillable or remanufactured cartridge options, and check for the Canon Cartridge Recycling Programme.
  • In-store? Ask for ENERGY STAR® certified Canon models or products labelled as energy-efficient.
  • Use Canon’s product lifecycle insights in the sustainability section to compare environmental impact before you buy.

Every mindful purchase helps shape a better tomorrow. With Canon, small changes add up to something bigger.

* Disclaimer: We use publicly available information, licensed data, information generated by artificial intelligence tools and information obtained directly from brands in order to determine our Sustainability Ratings. We recognise that you will be consulting various sources in order to do your due diligence and/or to inform your buying decisions, which may include considering our Sustainability Ratings. Please note that our Sustainability Ratings are for general information only and you must not use any part of the content on our site (including the Sustainability Ratings) for commercial or business purposes without first obtaining a licence to do so from us or our licensors. The Sustainability Ratings are not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees that the content on our site or the Sustainability Ratings are accurate, complete or up to date. We therefore disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such content by any visitor to our site, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Please refer to our Terms of Service or contact us at if you have any questions.

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