Seiko Epson Corporation, known as Epson, has completed a total shift to 100% renewable electricity at all its group sites across the world, becoming the first entity in the Japanese manufacturing industry to achieve this milestone. Annually, the Epson Group consumes around 876 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of electricity and through sourcing renewables, Epson anticipates significantly suppressing its annual carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 400,000 tonnes.

The switch to renewable electricity underpins the Epson Group's previously stated commitment to becoming carbon negative and underground resource-free as set out in its Environmental Vision 2050. This use of renewable electricity is a crucial component of Epson's approach to attaining its decarbonisation goal. Epson thus provoked attention in March 2021 when it made a public commitment to transition to 100% renewable electricity to cater for the electricity requirements at all its global sites by 2023. The company successfully fulfilled this pledge, achieving the switch first in Japan in November 2021 before rolling it out worldwide by December 2023.

Epson's move to renewable electricity will stand side by side with the broader adoption of renewable energy in its various operations. Epson's efforts include generating a higher percentage of its own electricity, backing the creation of new power sources through co-creation initiatives, reducing energy consumption linked to production processes and products, and driving further advances in resource circulation. All of these are geared towards Epson's ultimate goal of becoming carbon negative.

The distinct phases in Epson's transition to 100% renewable electricity began with the public commitment made in March 2021. This was quickly followed by the successful transition at all sites in its hometown of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, in April 2021. The switch was completed across all sites in Japan in November 2021 and, finally, the transition was completed at all global sites by December 2023.

Raising a landmark in Epson's journey towards a sustainable future, Global President Yasunori Ogawa said, "For the past eight decades, Epson has demonstrated a proactive approach to environmental action. We have maintained the founder's commitment to preserving the cleanliness of nearby Lake Suwa and became the world’s first company to eliminate CFCs from our manufacturing processes...successfully completing the switch to 100% renewable electricity...in just two years and ten months since declaring our commitment...This will not only help us achieve our own goals, but also help to facilitate a broader adoption of renewable electricity in the wider society. Realising social sustainability is a goal fraught with difficulties, but we will act with determination to address the hurdles with a spirit of creativity and challenge."

Epson has established a reputation for its efficient, compact, and precise innovation which it believes enriches lives and aids in creating a better world. The company remains committed to practices that align with this purpose, working steadfastly towards attaining sustainability and uplifting communities along with customers and partners.