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The COVID-19 pandemic is placing a significant burden on economies around the globe, including those in Europe. Konica Minolta therefore welcomes the sizeable plan presented by the European Union to support the economic recovery in its Member States. The company particularly highlights the ambitious goal of ‘green growth’. However, Konica Minolta is hoping for the additional inclusion of support for renewable energy sourcing by companies in the proposal. As a member of the renewable energy initiative RE100, Konica Minolta therefore welcomes RE-Source’s initiative in demanding the integration of such activities into the EU’s recovery plan.
With this position, Konica Minolta is in line with the initiative taken by RE-Source, the European platform for corporate renewable energy sourcing. In an open letter published on 27 May, RE-Source urged the European Union to take action in supporting corporate renewable sourcing. As a member of the RE100 program, Konica Minolta is one of the 230 largest global businesses that have committed to completely relying on renewable energy. RE100 members are set to stimulate investment in renewables worth EUR 90 billion[1] over the next ten years, much of this in Europe. The initiative emphasises the importance of support for energy consumers in securing an electricity supply from renewable sources at competitive prices, which is crucial if the EU wishes to reach target of 32 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Konica Minolta joined the RE100 programme in January 2019 in line with its goal of contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as combating climate change. This leadership initiative is committed to bringing together influential businesses to source energy supplies from 100 percent renewable sources. Konica Minolta is set to achieve this goal by 2050. Its European headquarters, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, is already contributing to the goal by using electricity from renewable resources. Further, all Konica Minolta locations in Germany, the United Kingdom and most locations in Austria are operated with electricity from renewable sources. Outside Europe, for example, its production site for multi-functional peripherals (MFPs) and digital printing systems in Wuxi, China, was certified as a Clean Production Company by the city, making the company a leader in environmental stewardship in China.
“Within the framework of this unprecedented stimulus, now is the perfect opportunity for the European Union to take a courageous step towards green energy leadership. We would be very grateful for Europe’s leaders to seize it,” Okamoto concludes.
[1] Bloomberg New Energy Finance
We welcome the EU’s strong economic recovery plan from the current COVID-19 crisis and its impact on European economies.The entailed push for a green economy in particular is a positive, bold stance with ambitious goals and meaningful measures. What we would additionally hope for, however, is the inclusion of measures that would help companies shift their energy consumption towards renewable resources. This would enable a major step in the meaningful transition from a carbon-based towards a renewable energy economy.
Keiji Okamoto
President of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
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About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan. With its unique expertise in imaging, data processing and data-based decision making, Konica Minolta creates relevant solutions for its customers - small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises and public sector - and solves issues faced by society.
As a digital workplace solution provider, Konica Minolta helps its clients to identify and unlock the potential digitalisation holds and reach the next level in the digital maturity of their organisation by rethinking the workplace. In support of an ‘Intelligent connected workplace’, Konica Minolta offers cloud, IT, managed print and video solution services for remote working, collaboration, workflow management and automation and security. The company’s success in driving transformation is also confirmed by IDC, since the ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment’ has named Konica Minolta a “Leader” in print transformation. Konica Minolta has been a Microsoft Global Managed Partner since 2021.
Konica Minolta's Igniting Print Possibilities offering helps printers, converters and brand owners maximise workflow automation to increase efficiency. The company delivers consultancy in all communication matters as well as top-of-the-line production, packaging as well as label printers. Its finishing devices create print products that stand out and create added value. Konica Minolta has established itself as the production printing market leader for more than a decade in Europe (InfoSource).
For an increasing number of organisations, success today is more than the narrow definition of financial prosperity – it also includes protecting the environment and having a positive impact on their workforce as well as the societies they are embedded in. With its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Konica Minolta has pledged to consistently pursue its sustainability and social responsibility goals.
The company has been repeatedly recognised for its rich history of social contribution as well as for working towards achieving the SDGs throughout its business and supply chain. Konica Minolta received a GOLD Level Recognition Medal in the EcoVadis sustainability ratings for 2023.
For its remote services, Konica Minolta was awarded the prestigious ‘Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023-2024 Pacesetter Award in Remote Service for the Western European market’ from Keypoint Intelligence.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With more than 8,700 employees (as of April 2023), Konica Minolta Europe earned net sales of over EUR 2.26 billion in financial year 2022/2023.
Worldwide, the company has over 39,000 employees and is operating in over 150 countries.
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