KONICA MINOLTA

About Konica Minolta

Giving Shape to Ideas

Material Issue 5

Using Limited Resources Effectively

Background

Social and environmental issue outlook for 2030

Given the world's growing population and the growing rate of resource consumption, it is estimated that the resources of two Earths would be required by 2030. In order to make more effective use of limited resources, companies need not only to recover and recycle waste, but also to minimize resource waste.
This means that drastic workflow innovations are required, such as using on-demand production and IoT technology, to reduce resource waste in the supply chain. There is also a growing need to adapt to a circular economy to be created by developing material technologies that facilitate recycling, while building better networks for recovering used resources.

Opportunities for Konica Minolta to create value, and risks to be minimized

Opportunities


■Through Konica Minolta businesses
  • Constructing lean, waste-free supply chains for client companies through on-demand production
  • Reducing workflow and supply chain loss for corporate clients

Risks


■Affecting Konica Minolta
  • Decline in competitiveness due to delayed participation in the circular economy
  • Production or shipment delays due to water-related risks and water resource depletion

Social/Environmental Impact Major Stakeholders
Positive
  • Reducing resource consumption and disposal costs through efficient resource utilization
  • Helping customers use resources more efficiently by providing solutions that transform their production processes
  • Global environment
  • Local and global communities
  • Business partners
Negative
  • Increased social and environmental impact due to resource use and waste discharge
  • Global environment
  • Local and global communities

Vision for 2030 and Medium-Term Plan

Promoting the efficient use of resources at Konica Minolta, while contributing to improved resource efficiency among its customers and suppliers

For metrics/targets and results over the years, please refer to the "Using Limited Resources Effectively" table in the Sustainability Goals and Results page's list of goals and results (PDF).

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Konica Minolta's Approach

In 2023, Konica Minolta set a new vision for the materiality “Using limited resources effectively” and added it as one of the items in Eco Vision 2050.
The Company aims to achieve zero dependence on natural resources* to zero by 2050 by reducing overall resource consumption and expanding the use of recycled materials.
To reduce the use of the natural resources in products used by customers and society beyond its own offering, Konica Minolta will help transform work-styles and manufacturing processes that make effective use of the resources of customers and society through on-demand production and imaging IoT using the solutions it provides.
For example, in the field of commercial printing, the company is facilitating the transition to on-demand printing, thereby transforming the business model of mass production and disposal. The widespread use of Konica Minolta products for small-batch, decentralized printing can accelerate innovation in the printing industry’s supply chain while achieving resource conservation and waste reduction.
Konica Minolta is also working to improve the functionality of recycled plastics to help create a circular economy. Through "up-cycle recycling" that adds high functionality, the Company is expanding its use not only to its own multi-function devices, but also to external electronic products. Going forward, it will accelerate collaboration with more companies, including customers and business partners, to further reduce environmental impact and promote the creation of a circular model linked to its business model.

*Natural resources: Resources that require new drilling or mining, such as crude oil or mineral resources, and are generally synonymous with depletable resources.

Businesses: Effective Use of Resources by Transforming Customer Business Processes

●Eliminating inventory and disposal in customer processes using on-demand printing and production

●Reducing customer workflow and supply chain loss utilizing materials and process technologies that use them

●Contributing to resource recycling through sensing technology

●Utilizing recycled plastics that contribute to a circular economy.

Internal Action: Effective Use of Resources Relating to Konica Minolta Sites, Suppliers, Products and Services

●Reducing environmental impact and costs at Konica Minolta sites

●Reducing supplier environmental impact and costs using DX

●Creating circular models linked to business models

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