Canon to Integrate Recycled Steel in Printers

Canon to Integrate Recycled Steel in Printers

Canon Inc. has announced that starting in 2025, it will begin incorporating recycled steel (electric furnace steel sheets) into the production of various printing products, including office multifunction devices, home inkjet printers, large-format inkjet printers, and commercial printing presses. This move is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to enhance resource recycling and promote environmental sustainability.

Recycled steel used in Canon products (prior to processing)

Electric furnace steel sheets are produced from steel scrap, collected from used products, and offer a significant reduction in the input of new resources. This approach not only supports recycling efforts but also lowers CO2 emissions. Compared to traditional blast furnace steel, which is made from iron ore, the production of electric furnace steel sheets generates about one-fifth of the CO2 emissions, making it a key contributor to decarbonization.

Steel with copper (left) collected from MFDs and steel refined to 99% purity (right)

Steel is the second most used material in Canon’s printing products, following plastic, and the company has developed methods to optimize the processing of electric furnace steel sheets for use in its products. Currently, Canon Ecology Industry Co., Ltd., a group company, separates steel scrap from used MFDs and supplies it to Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., an electric furnace steelmaker. Between April 2020 and March 2024, Canon provided over 5,000 tons of steel scrap to Tokyo Steel, which then manufactures the electric furnace steel sheets used in Canon products.

This partnership supports Canon’s goal of effective resource use and recycling, helping to reduce the consumption of virgin materials and contributing to environmental sustainability.

Canon has been working towards environmental sustainability through its kyosei corporate philosophy, which aims to harmonize business practices with nature. Since 2008, the company has focused on reducing CO2 emissions per product, achieving an average annual improvement of 3.95% between 2008 and 2023, resulting in a cumulative improvement of 44.4%. Canon is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and will continue to implement initiatives that contribute to this goal.

Through these efforts, Canon is making significant strides in sustainability, focusing on reducing CO2 emissions, enhancing resource recycling, and developing environmentally friendly products for the future.

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