The case for data-driven sustainability

In pursuing a complex, multi-faceted approach to sustainability, data holds the answers. It has been instrumental for global technology leader Epson to accelerate progress towards some of its environmental, social, and governance goals, including the commitment to becoming carbon-negative and underground-resource free through the Environmental Vision 2050.

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Epson’s recently released Southeast Asia Sustainability Report for FY2023 provides detailed insights on the use of data in meeting sustainability outcomes and institutionalizing policy changes. While Epson has always been committed to sustainability, the company knew it was time to move on from an activity-centered approach to one grounded in data-driven methodology.

In FY2023, Epson established a Sustainability Task Force to drive sustainability strategy across Southeast Asia. The initiative began with a materiality assessment of key sustainability topics, involving all stakeholder groups: customers, vendors & suppliers, dealers, distributors, NGOs and service providers.

The assessment helped formulate mandatory concrete actions for the Task Force to pursue, founded on three key areas: Achieving sustainability in a circular economy, advancing the frontiers of industry, and fulfilling social responsibility. From the concrete actions identified, the Task Force has mapped out a sustainability roadmap outlining targets throughout FY2026, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We remain steadfast in pursuing our data-driven approach, ensuring that our sustainability efforts are methodically guided by the data we collect,” said Epson Southeast Asia (SEA) Regional Managing Director Siew Jin Kiat. “This approach allows us to measure progress accurately and make informed objective decisions to achieve our sustainability goals.”

Accelerating impact through data

Epson hit the ground running on its progress toward sustainability in FY2023. In that year, all Epson global sites have transitioned to 100% renewable electricity. While many companies in the world are still kickstarting their journey towards hitting that goal in 2050, Epson has already accomplished it due to its long-standing commitment to sustainability.

Epson SEA was also able to reduce gross to net emissions by 37% in FY2023 through Renewable Energy Certificates (REC). Scope 2 activities such as purchased electricity, heat, steam, or cooling, make up 37% of Epson SEA’s emissions and are fully offset with the purchase of RECs. Meanwhile, Scope 3 emissions from transportation and distribution among others, account for most of Epson SEA’s emissions at about 60%.

Globally, Epson targets to lower scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 34% and scope 3 emissions by 4% by FY2025 from FY2017. To better hit this target, Epson SEA will aim for a BCA Green Mark certification for the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The certification, which Singapore had already achieved, involves retrofitting the facilities to improve overall building performance in terms of energy efficiency, lower water consumption, and better waste management.

There were also significant milestones in Epson’s waste reduction initiatives. Epson has phased out the use of plastic bottles in all its Southeast Asia offices and is targeting to extend this to all single-use plastics by 2025. Selected Epson offices across the region have also implemented a program turning empty ink bottles and cartridges into valuable items. 

In the Philippines, the Corporate Waste Collection Program transformed 200 kilograms of recyclables into school chairs donated to public schools, as well as furniture and other household items. The program kicked off in Davao and will be rolled out in Metro Manila and other cities soon. Other Epson offices across Southeast Asia have implemented similar initiatives where customers can return their used cartridges for proper collection and disposal.

Epson also ensures that even suppliers and vendors share the same commitment to responsible environmental and social practices. In FY2023, Epson SEA’s new suppliers (160 out of 454) were screened using environmental criteria. 

“At Epson, the concept of care for our habitat is a value-driven tradition embodied in our Corporate Purpose: Our philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world,” said Siew. “Together with our employees and business partners, we are making meaningful strides towards a sustainable future, reaffirming our commitment to the environment and society at large.” 

Access the Epson Southeast Asia FY23 Sustainability Report here.