Seiko Epson Corporation (SEC) have this week set themselves the difficult target of cutting their CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to today’s usage.
Akihiko Sakai, executive corporate strategy officer for the company made the pledge at a meeting in Brussels stating:
Our aim is to reduce CO2 emissions within the lifecycle of our products and services by 90 percent by the year 2050 compared with current levels, in order to keep emissions below the Earth’s CO2-absorption capacity … We would like to invite other members of the printing and imaging industry to match or better our targets.
In order to achieve their goal SEC are reviewing all areas of their manufacturing and operations. Planned changes include the way in which the products are distributed around the world, better recycling programs to ensure more reuse of parts and a review of the parts used in products.
SEC want to reduce the size of the parts being used in their products so they weigh less and use less materials. Less weight means they are lighter for transport, but also use less power when being moved around as is typical in a printer.
The current CO2 emissions at SEC are around 750,000 tonnes per annum.
Read more at ZDNet UK
Matthew’s Opinion
That is a big reduction they are proposing, but one they must feel they can achieve in order to suggest it in the first place. The idea of reducing the size, and therefore the weight of parts makes sense in terms of cutting CO2 emissions. However, SEC have to still ensure products are sturdy and can cope with every day use. This is especially true of business-class devices.
The other good side effect of announcements like this is it pushes rivals of SEC to take similar action. If they don’t; SEC has a marketing advantage and can say it is a company working to save the environment and buying its products helps.
»read more from "Seiko Epson aims for 90% CO2 emission reduction by 2050"
As you’re undoubtably aware, Bill Gates is set to retire on June 27th at the ripe old age of 52. Bill’s Harvard bud, Mr. Dancin’ Steve Ballmer, also 52 and a notable fan of the developers, has been itching to take over since his appointment as CEO back in 2000. Speaking at an event on Tuesday, we now know that he intends to remain in command, “for another nine or 10 years… until my last kid goes away to college.” Still, as easy-going as the relationship appeared at D, the transition was forged in fire. In fact, the power conflict was reportedly so severe, according to the Wall Street Journal, that it “paralyzed business strategy decision that the company still wrestles with today.” The tension at least once unravelled into a public shouting match (no really, from Ballmer?) between the two. The struggle was apparently resolved in 2001 when Bill finally accepted that he was number 2, “I had to change,” says Gates. Keep in mind that Bill will continue “working” for Microsoft one day a week and serve as the chairman of the board after his so-called retirement. And with Ballmer packing up Gates with a parting quote like, “I’m not going to need him for anything. That’s the principle. Use him, yes, need him, no,” well, let’s just say things don’t seem 100% resolved. 
