bizhub Products Achieve Gold Status for Meeting Strict Environmental Criteria
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announces that EPEAT, the definitive global registry for greener electronics, has added 14 Konica Minolta bizhub MFPs to its product registry with “Gold” status, the highest level of achievement on the registry. With these additions, all 33 Konica Minolta MFPs on the EPEAT registry have now achieved “Silver” level status or higher.
By providing environmental ratings on electronics, EPEAT helps companies, governments and consumers easily identify and purchase greener devices for improved environmental benefits. To be added to the EPEAT registry, an imaging device must meet at least 33 required environmental performance criteria. Products may achieve higher ratings by meeting up to 26 additional optional criteria. The number of optional criteria met determines a product’s rating of Bronze, Silver or Gold. To achieve Gold status, a product must meet the requirements of Bronze and Silver status by meeting at least 75 percent of optional criteria.
The rating criteria were developed during a four-year stakeholder consensus process that involved hundreds of representatives from the environmental, research, governmental and manufacturing sectors. EPEAT rates products on a lifecycle basis, addressing the elimination of toxic substances, the use of recycled and recyclable materials, their design for recycling, product longevity, energy efficiency, corporate performance and packaging, among other criteria.
Konica Minolta aims to conduct all of its corporate activities in harmony with society and the environment by integrating environmental, economic and social perspectives into the company’s corporate strategy. Based on this approach, in 2009, Konica Minolta formulated Eco Vision 2050 as its long-term environmental vision. This vision guides Konica Minolta towards achieving its future objectives and fulfilling its responsibility as a global corporation by contributing to a sustainable earth and society.
“Konica Minolta’s continued focus on environmental issues is evidenced by our inclusion on this registry and by the superior ranking each of our products receives,” says Kevin Kern, senior vice president, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “This designation is another reason why customers can always count on Konica Minolta not only for market-leading performance but also to provide environmentally-sound products.”
Konica Minolta has been named to the FTSE4Good Global Index for ten consecutive years, included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and has also been awarded with Prime Status by Germany-based oekom research AG, one of the best companies for CSR in its worldwide industry segment.
For a complete listing of EPEAT products, click here. For additional information on Konica Minolta’s global CSR and environmental efforts, please click here.
Originally published at: http://kmbs.konicaminolta.us/wps/portal/web/home/about/news/
Byron Shaw 