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Panasonic tackles CO2 emission targets

JAPAN: As it pushes for net zero, Panasonic says it has recycled nearly 5,000,000 waste air conditioners since 2001 at its home appliances recycling facility in Kato City.

In January 2022, Panasonic launched its Green Impact mid- to long-term environmental vision to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 300 million tons by 2050. This would be equivalent to approximately 1% of current total global CO2 emissions.

This includes a reduction in CO2 emissions of 110 million tonnes across Panasonic’s entire value chain. 

The Japanese manufacturer has also pledged to have all its 250 factories worldwide operating in a net zero capacity by 2050. It is already ahead of target with 45 factories achieving that target. This has been achieved through a combination of PV, battery storage, hydrogen and heat pump technology. 

In addition to reducing CO2 emissions in its own value chain , the company is working to increase its contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in society and to realise a circular economy through its business activities.

The PETEC home appliances recycling facility in Kato City, Hyōgo Prefecture

Key to that is the contribution of the 15,100m2 Panasonic Eco Technology Centre (PETEC) in Kato City. In May this year, the facility achieved reached a cumulative total of 20 million units across four types of waste home appliances – air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines. Of these 4.93 million were air conditioners.

PETEC’s concept recycles home appliances to create new products. This involves recovering metals, resins, and other materials from discarded home appliances and reusing them in equivalent products.

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