Panasonic Pledges Major New Eco Sustainability Goals - Three-Year Plan to Double Sale of Energy Efficient Products, and Grow Environmental School Programs

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced several new initiatives to further enhance the environmental performance of its manufacturing and marketing operations and to expand its eco education and community programs.  Citing the global company's long and strong commitment to environmental sustainability, Panasonic summarized the North American initiatives in an Eco Ideas Declaration pledging to even more aggressively pursue eco-innovation in both its products and business practices.  The Declaration includes specific sustainability goals to be achieved over the next three years, as well as a reaffirmation of the company's founding philosophy to contribute to society.

"Panasonic aims to become the Number One Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by 2018, which will mark our company's 100th anniversary," said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America.  "Panasonic is strongly committed to responsible environmental stewardship, and as a global leader in the electronics industry, it is our duty to contribute clearly and publicly to an environmentally sustainable future.  This Declaration is another way we can express our commitment and seek the review and involvement of our customers and our communities."

In highlighting the initiatives, Taylor provided several measurable goals for its operations over the three-year period through 2013.  Among them, Panasonic pledged for North America to double its sales of industry-leading, environmentally conscious products in North America; to double the number of drop-off locations in its award-winning electronics recycling program from 800 to 1,600 sites; and to reduce by nearly half (45%) the greenhouse gas emissions at its headquarters operations.

Panasonic also announced multiple ways it will expand its environmental education opportunities for children and adults across North America over the coming three years.  First, the company aims to reach at least 500,000 school children with stimulating and useful environmental information, materials and programs for use in homes and schools.  

In addition, Panasonic is pleased to announce a new scholarship program it is sponsoring with The EARTH University in Costa Rica, whose aim is to educate future generations in environmental stewardship and sustainability science and practices.  And Panasonic will further encourage environmental programs at local schools through enhancements to its Kid Witness News and Creative Design Challenge programs. For example, Panasonic products, such as HD Visual Communications Systems, will be implemented into these programs, helping students communicate with others in distant locations, thus helping to foster a global environment for learning.

The Eco Ideas Declaration itself provides for these specific goals for North America in two core areas of Panasonic's overall Green Innovation strategy:

Eco-Ideas for Lifestyles in pursuit of a more sustainable lifestyle

• Double the sales of ENERGY STAR-qualified products, EPEAT Silver and Gold-registered products, and Panasonic Superior Green Products (as designated by a stringent Panasonic company standard) by 2013
• Contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by 8,000,000 tons by 2013 through the development and sale of energy efficient products  
• Provide environmental educational outreach to at least 500,000 students by 2013

Eco-Ideas for Business-styles in pursuit of further reducing the environmental impact of Panasonic's business activities

• Expand the Panasonic National Recycling Program from its current 833 sites to 1,600 sites by 2013
• Reduce CO2 emissions from our North American headquarters operations by 45% by 2013 compared to our 2006 baseline

Panasonic's commitment to pro-active environmental stewardship runs deep and is well recognized.  As early as 1971, Panasonic's founder Konosuke Matsushita recognized the importance of environmental stewardship.  "Even though industrial development is important, it should not result in the destruction of the natural environment or make people miserable," he wrote then. This fundamental belief led Panasonic to adopt an Environmental Declaration in 1991, making the company one of the first electronic manufacturers to do so.

Panasonic has published comprehensive environmental sustainability reports for the past 12 years.  For the past several years Panasonic has solicited critiques of its operations and reporting from leading environmental experts both to maximize their value to Panasonic stakeholders and to help constantly improve the company's performance.  Recent copies can be found at:  http://panasonic.net/eco/env_data/back_number/.

Panasonic was named to the 2010 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, included in the Global 100 Index of the Most Sustainable Companies, and listed in the 'Top 10' in Newsweek's "Green Rankings of Global Companies."  Also, Panasonic's efforts were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year as the first winner of the agency's TV Recycling Challenge.

In addition, Panasonic was an electronic industry leader in adopting environmental management systems.  By 1999 all Panasonic manufacturing facilities around the world achieved third-party certification to the ISO14001 Environmental Management System standard.  And all new Panasonic factory facilities must also achieve certification.

Kid Witness News is a global video education program supported by Panasonic, with the aim of boosting creativity and communication skills and fostering teamwork through video production by children at the elementary and secondary school levels. More than 130,000 children around the world have participated in the KWN program since it first began in the U.S. in 1989.  Environmental protection is one of three primary themes of the KWN video contest.  Panasonic is planning an international awards ceremony for July, 2011. Information about KWN is available at http://panasonic.net/kwn/.

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. 

SOURCE Panasonic