CSR History
History of Epson and CSR
Technical excellence, a desire to be a company trusted worldwide, and a spirit of creativity and challenge. These are what made Epson the company it is today. And behind all this has been Epson's firm commitment to the environment and the communities in which it does business. This commitment has led to a number of important milestones, including becoming the first company in the world to completely eliminate CFCs from all operations.
| Month | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s-1950s | Introduces facility to thoroughly treat wastewater before release into Lake Suwa | |
| 1960s | Epson takes initiatives to assure occupational safety and health | |
| 1970s-1980s | Epson introduces closed system for hazardous substances in wastewater processing, establishes independent contamination/pollution standards that exceed legal and regulatory requirements, and introduces energy-and resource-saving equipment and facilities | |
| Sep. | 1983 | Mizube Workshop (now a special subsidiary named Epson Mizube Corp.) is established to help provide employment to persons with disabilities |
| Dec. | 1988 | Epson makes "CFC-Free Declaration," and begins initiatives to eliminate CFCs by the end of FY1993 |
| Jun. | 1989 | Epson Information Science Vocational School is established |
| Apr. | 1990 | Epson introduces caregiver leave program in Japan |
| Aug. | 1990 | Epson introduces new human resources rotation program and internal recruiting system in Japan |
| Aug. | 1990 | Epson introduces new human resources rotation program and internal recruiting system in Japan |
| Apr. | 1991 | Epson establishes childcare leave program in Japan |
| 1991 | Epson begins providing psychological counseling to employees in Japan | |
| Oct. | 1992 | Eliminates designated CFCs from all cleaning processes in domestic production (one year and five months ahead of schedule) |
| Apr. | 1993 | Epson introduces leave programs for rehabilitation of people with disabilities and for volunteer work |
| May | 1993 | Epson eliminates designated CFCs from its cleaning processes globally |
| Nov. | 1993 | Epson eliminates of 1,1,1-trichloroethane |
| Jan. | 1995 | Epson begins collecting and recycling used ink cartridges in Japan |
| Sep. | 1997 | Epson receives the Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (winning both the Corporate Award and the Individual Award six years in a row from 1992) |
| Dec. | 1997 | Epson International Scholarship Foundation is established in Japan |
| Apr. | 1998 | Epson establishes General Environmental Policy as the Second Environmental Benchmark Year in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the First Environmental Benchmark Year |
| Mar. | 1999 | Epson Korea Junior Development Foundation is established |
| May | 1999 | Epson Iberia Foundation is established |
| Mar. | 1999 | Eliminates chlorinated organic solvents (trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, and tetrachloroethylene) from its manufacturing processes worldwide |
| Jun. | 1999 | Epson begins collecting and recycling used ink cartridges in Japan |
| Nov. | 2000 | Epson begins forestation program in Kalimantan, Indonesia |
| Nov. | 2000 | Epson begins participating in the Energy-Saving Patrol Team |
| Nov. | 2000 | Epson expands the collection of end-of-life Epson products from corporations throughout Japan |
| Apr. | 2001 | Epson enters into 15-Year contract to purchase wind power from Japan Natural Energy Co. Ltd. |
| May | 2001 | All major Epson manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites, in Japan and overseas, complete the acquisition of ISO 14001 certification |
| Nov. | 2002 | Epson introduces a "job challenge system" to help employees develop their careers |
| Mar. | 2002 | Zero Emissions Level 1 achieved at all 19 Seiko Epson sites in Japan |
| May | 2002 | Epson starts Kids' ISO Program |
| Feb. | 2003 | Epson Service Co. introduces "green" delivery packs at all sites |
| May | 2003 | Epson occupational safety and health management system (OSHMS) certified by the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) |
| Aug. | 2003 | Epson realizes the semiconductor industry's first closed-loop recycling for hydrofluoric acid waste |
| Mar. | 2004 | Epson achieves Zero Emissions Level 1 at all business sites, including 12 manufacturing affiliates worldwide |
| Jun. | 2004 | Epson joins Bellmark Program with collection of used ink cartridges |
| Jul. | 2004 | Epson participates in the United Nations Global Compact |
| Jul. | 2005 | Epson completes introduction of E-Chem Chemical Data Management System throughout its manufacturing sites worldwide |
| Aug. | 2005 | Epson printer becomes the first printer manufactured outside the Chinese mainland to receive Energy Conservation Award in China |
| Dec. | 2005 | Epson Hong Kong Ltd. awarded the Hong Kong Green Label |
| Jul. | 2006 | Epson Korea Co., Ltd. wins energy conservation award |
| Dec. | 2006 | Epson adopts new global standard for environmentally conscious large format printer ink cartridge packages and switches to natural-color plastic for cartridges |
| Apr. | 2007 | Epson establishes paper product procurement policy |
| Jun. | 2007 | Epson certified as a company that is implementing policies that will benefit the next generation |
| Jun. | 2007 | Genuine inkjet photo matte papers receive FSC (COC) certification |
| Jul. | 2007 | Epson Method Version 2 is announced |
| Apr. | 2008 | Six printer manufacturers, including Epson, launch the "Ink Cartridge Home Coming Project," a collaborative effort with Japan Post Holdings to collect used ink cartridges |
| Jun. | 2008 | Epson establishes "Environmental Vision 2050" |
| Sep. | 2008 | Epson establishes the environmental positioning statement, "Better Products for a Better Future." |
| Nov. | 2008 | Epson begins supporting the Jinguji 100-Year Forest Project |
| Mar. | 2009 | Epson scanner becomes the first scanner certified under Taiwanese "Green Mark" eco label program |
| Jun. | 2009 | Epson Sales Japan and Canon Marketing Japan team up on distribution to reduce CO2 |
| Oct. | 2009 | Epson (China) Co., Ltd. receives "China Environmental Labeling Special Contribution Award" for outstanding companies |
| Dec. | 2009 | Epson begins using eco-labels conforming to the revised Epson ecology label system |
| Apr. | 2010 | Epson joins five other printer manufacturers in kicking off support for the United Nations Environment Program via joint used-ink cartridge collection effort |
| Apr. | 2010 | Epson launches a new program in which customers in Japan can earn points by participating in a used ink cartridge pick-up service |
| Dec. | 2010 | Epson launches Taiwan Energy-Saving Patrol Team |
| Dec. | 2011 | Singapore Printer Brands Launch First-Ever Joint Recycling Initiative-Project Homecoming |
| Mar. | 2012 | EPSON's In-House Facility Accredited as International ENERGY STAR® Program Testing Center |