Panasonic Demonstrates 'Eco Ideas' Products and Its Global Environmental Commitment at Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Panasonic, exhibiting at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2010, which starts on January 7 in Las Vegas, invites show attendees to booth #9405 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center to learn more about the company's environmental vision, eco activities and operations, and efficient products.

As part of its CES booth, Panasonic is highlighting its latest technologies, such as Full HD 3D television, and is also featuring a dedicated 'Eco Ideas' area to share the company's environmentally conscious products, practices and vision for the years ahead. And a key eco idea at CES is to survey visitors to the booth about what they have seen, in order to learn from their observations and comments.

Since Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita first voiced the importance of "environmentally conscious development" more than 40 years ago, Panasonic has actively focused on environmental activities. Among other things visitors will see examples of Panasonic's global 'eco ideas' environmental activities and learn more about its Green Plan 2010, and the company's commitment to responsible environmental stewardship - globally and in the U.S.

One exhibit will update visitors on the continuing, steady growth of the Panasonic Corporation of North America's nationwide recycling program, which already provides hundreds of free drop-off sites across the country, making it convenient for consumers to properly recycle their Panasonic consumer electronics products. Panasonic's recycling program began in 2007, when the company declared it would have 400 drop-off sites by the end of the 2009 fiscal year. Panasonic will surpass this goal as it currently has 400 sites - and the program is now represented in all 50 states. The next goal is to expand the network to include at least 600 drop-off sites by the end of fiscal 2010, with more sites to come after that.

Panasonic is also a founder of MRM (Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company), together with Sharp and Toshiba, and in 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the joint venture the first-ever winner of the "Plug-In To eCycling TV Recycling Challenge" Award. The EPA called upon television manufacturers and electronics retailers to find creative ways to increase responsible recycling practices for end-of-life TVs. MRM was awarded the honor over other programs on the basis of its partnerships; innovation; longevity; consumer outreach; accessibility; pounds of TVs collected; and ability to ensure that responsible recycling practices are followed. In making the award, EPA cited MRM's "wide reach" and "different approaches to collecting TVs, including working with charities and self storage units."

Panasonic's CES booth showcases a range of environmentally-focused consumer electronics solutions and educates visitors on Panasonic's environmental initiatives spanning diverse global business activities. Highlights of the CES 2010 Eco Ideas display include:

• Panasonic's support of a student solar electric vehicle team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the "Global Green Challenge," a highly-regarded solar car race held annually in Australia. Panasonic provided the MIT team with 550 extremely high-energy density lithium-ion battery cells.
• Panasonic's "Energy Vision" is to become a leading environmental innovator and help realize a low-carbon-emissions society that is focused on sustainability.

Panasonic's environmental commitment highlighted in the CES booth reflects the same, deep-going commitment to environmental responsibility in the daily operations and activities of its worldwide manufacturing and business locations. And the company encourages everyone everywhere to make environmental responsibility a personal, daily commitment, too. To help spur personal action, Panasonic Corporation recently launched a new environmentally-focused social networking site - eco-ideas.net - which encourages users to join and learn new ways to be an environmentally responsible citizen. Visitors to eco-ideas.net can join using Facebook, Google or Twitter accounts and can then share how they are making changes, big or small, in their daily lives, as well as learning about new ways from others - all the while measuring how these actions are reducing their carbon dioxide emissions. Among the common sense eco actions the site suggests:

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs
• Set an air conditioner to a higher temperature
• Set heating systems to a lower temperature
• Take shorter showers
• Bring your own shopping bags when grocery shopping

More features will be added in the coming weeks to eco-ideas.net, such as the ECO Update, which will record the network's eco actions for all of 2009. The site also plans to host short videos that members themselves create and submit.

Panasonic's CES 2010 press kit is completely virtual and available online at www.panasonic.com/CES2010. Panasonic is distributing plantable [post-consumer paper] cards (filled with basil seeds) to media - complete with the URL to access the online press kit. To download all press releases, images and learn about Panasonic's involvement at CES 2010, please visit: www.panasonic.com/CES2010. To learn more about Panasonic's commitment to the environment, visit: www.panasonic.com/environmental.

About Panasonic

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) of Osaka, Japan, and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Movement as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category and, beginning in 2009, in the Digital Imaging category as well. Panasonic has also renewed its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for an additional eight years through the 2016 Summer Games. For more information, visit http://panasonic.net/olympic/.

SOURCE Panasonic