Generation Green is Canon’s environmental initiative that aims to reduce the environmental burdens in all stages of a product’s lifecycle. This program is designed to provide business partners, customers and consumers a way to identify and learn about the various green products and solutions Canon offers. Check out their website to learn more about their environmentally conscious products.

SUSTAINABILITY

Arbor Day Foundation: From January 1 – June 30, 2011 Canon will be running a Tree Planting program for the imageRUNNER ADVANCE series of MFPs. During this time frame, Canon will plant 1 tree for every imageRUNNER ADVANCE unit purchased. Canon has planted over 70,000 trees over the past three years. In one day alone, these 70,000 trees can generate enough oxygen for 200,000 people.

Inkjet Cartridge Recycling: To contribute to the goal of zero landfill waste, Canon is introducing a collection and recycling program for Genuine Canon Inkjet Printer Cartridges.

Toner Cartridge Recycling: Canon was the first in the printing industry to create a toner cartridge recycling program. Canon toner cartridges are 100% recovered with zero landfill waste.

Hardware Recycling: Canon is committed to the world community and the belief that we are building a better world for future generations. We want to work with our customers to ensure appropriate recycling of certain products to help improve the environment and our local communities.

Business Copier Remanufacturing Program: Canon’s Business Copier Remanufacturing Program helps reduce waste and conserve the environment by extending the lifecycle of select Canon equipment – following our long held “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” philosophies and initiatives.

Toner Container Collection Program: When Canon plastic toner containers cannot be recycled locally or sent to a local energy recovery facility, Canon allows customers to ship them to their designated facility for recycling.

Use of Bio-Based Plastics: Canon’s innovative green technologies include bio-based plastic, an environmentally conscious material that incorporates plant-based and organic components, with the world’s highest level of flame resistance. Our imageRUNNER ADVANCE digital imaging series incorporate this design on certain parts where users directly interface with the device.

Refurbishing Program: The Canon refurbishing facility manages waste stream processes for Canon products, so Canon has full control over recovery and salvage for its products, not third-party vendors.

Recyclable Hardware: From the development and design stages, Canon strives to attain 65% recyclability and 75% recoverability for its products, as stipulated by the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive).

Use of Recycled Plastics: Canon uses numerous types of recycled plastic in exterior housings and other product parts. For example, “Sandwich molding” in which recycled plastic is sandwiched between layers of virgin plastic. This technology contributes to realizing more environmentally conscious products.

COMPLIANCE

ENERGY STAR®: Qualified products are 25% more efficient than conventional models. By using less energy these products reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy as well as money. ENERGY STAR products automatically enter low-power mode when not in use.

RoHS Complaint: This is a directive from the European Union that restricts the use of hazardous materials found in electronic products. This product restricts the use of cadmium, mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE).

CONSUMPTION

Auto Duplexing: Using automatic two-sided printing and copying can save you up to 50% of your paper supply.

4-in-1 Printing, 2-in-1 Printing (Image Combination): This allows users to place multiple pages on one page, saving up to 75% of your paper supply.

Document Scanning: Allows users to convert paper-based documents into electronic data format for archival purposes, as well as short-term storage, or distribution to other destinations over a network or the Internet. Can help reduce huge volumes of paper stored in file cabinets and the need to distribute hardcopy documents via interoffice, overnight delivery, or regular mail.

PC Faxing: Send documents directly from your PC to a fax machine to reduce paper and print usage.

Secure Print: Also known as “PIN printing”, allows users to send print jobs to a device and then not release the job for printing until entering a personal identification number at the device. This helps to eliminate the practice of users sending jobs to print and then not going to retrieve them, or reprinting lost jobs, both of which waste paper.

Mailbox: Electronic mailboxes allow users to store frequently used documents (ie. forms, etc.) into memory at the device, then edit and preview, and/or combine print data with other jobs already stored in a mailbox for later output. This capability provides users with significant flexibility in managing job composition and output, and permits the printing of jobs on demand thereby saving paper costs.

Access Management Modes: Includes a range of features allowing administrators to track and control device access and usage by department, or on an individual-basis, and allows settings that can be implemented across an entire enterprise (such as page limits, enforce 2-sided printing, restrict/allow color printing, and eliminate banner pages, etc.) to conserve resources.

Toner Saving Mode: When an applicable product is switched into the toner saving mode, it allows for a 20% more economical toner usage.

Airshell Cartridge Packaging: AIRSHELL is packaging material for the imageCLASS toner cartridges that utilizes air cushioning. It reduces product package sizes, improving shipping efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions generated during transport by 23% to 49%.

Ink Saving: This feature allows you to use up to 50% less ink when printing in order to make your ink supply last longer and reduce the number of wasted ink cartridges.

Individual Ink Tanks: The individual ink tanks may reduce the amount of wasted ink from cartridges as compared to a composite 4 color cartridge by allowing users to replace individual color tanks rather than entire color cartridges.

Recycled Plastics: Approximately 25- 58% by weight of Canon calculators is made up of post-consumer recycled plastic which was recycled from other Canon Products.

Free Layout: Allows users to manually place multiple pages on 1sheet in a desired layout to maximize paper usage, thereby reducing wasted paper supply.

Conserve Paper Features: When possible, this function will automatically rotate a page to fit the current media size and reduce wasted paper supply.

ENERGY SAVING

Quick Start: The energy efficient Quick Start feature of the ink jet printers makes it easy to start up your printer in a matter of seconds, making it more convenient to keep the printer off, thus reducing energy consumption.

Energy Saving Mode: Automatically puts devices to sleep after a specified time, thus reducing energy consumption.

LED Light Source: The LED Light Source allows the scanning unit to be smaller and have no warm up time, resulting in lower energy consumption, and allowing users to start scanning immediately (excluding film scans).

USB Powered: The low power requirement of Canon scanners allow them to be powered solely through a USB cable. The elimination of the external power source also reduces the amount of materials needed during production.

Solar Powered Only: The LS-716H calculator is powered solely by solar power. It does not use any batteries, thus reducing the amount of waste generated.

Standby Mode under 5W: Using only 5W or less in Standby Mode means that this printer/scanner will minimize energy consumption even when left on.

Auto Power Switch: The products are automatically turned ON or OFF in accordance with the power ON/OFF state of the computer.

RAPID Fusing System: Canon’s RAPID Fusing System uses a special fixing film and ceramic heater that heats instantly for fast warm-up speeds, quick first prints, and drastically reduced energy consumption – up to 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional roller-fixing systems.

Induction Heating (IH) System: Canon’s Induction Heating (IH) toner-fixing system provides fast heat conduction through the application of a high-frequency electrical current through a coil built into a fixing roller. As a result, the technology reduces standby times to one-sixth of wait times while cutting energy consumption by about 70% compared with conventional systems.

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Many of you know that I’ve been “greening” my wedding photography business practices for several years now. What the heck does that mean, exactly? Good question! Here’s a little more about what makes me green:

1) I am a certified charter member and currently serve on the Board of Directors for Greener Photography. Greener Photography is a place for the photographic community to consider the environment; learn to conserve and better preserve our resources and images; and connect by sharing suppliers, ideas, and methods. Together we can learn how each of us can be more green, advocate for change within our field, and provide a place for informed discussion about how we can make photography greener. Photography is an art form that allows each of us to interpret the world around us. The nature of our tools and traditional materials makes photography a high-tech field; it is an energy-intensive activity. We believe that we can make our high-tech field more green by implementing environmentally-friendly practices, and encouraging suppliers to do the same.

2) I am a member of Green America, as well as a member of the Green America Green Business Network. (I am 1 of only 10 photographers in the United States approved to currently have this designation). Open to members of Green America, the Green Business Network is a  highly selected group of socially and environmentally conscious business leaders. As a member of Green America’s Green Business Network™, members conduct business according to standards that reach beyond contemporary practices in addressing the needs of consumers, employees, the community and the environment. They certify and can demonstrate that they strive to operate in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner.

3) My company is currently in the process of being reviewed (and hopefully approved) as a Green Business by the Bay Area Green Business Program. The BAGBP distinguishes small businesses that protect, preserve and sustain our environment. Thier partnership of environmental agencies and utilities assists, offers incentives, and verifies that participating businesses conserve energy and water, minimize waste, prevent pollution, and shrink their carbon footprints. Businesses that meet BAGBP standards are officially recognized as “Bay Area Green Businesses”.

4)  I  have modified my business practices to be more environmentally friendly. I’ve covered areas such as business practices, technology, office work flow, and client products & services. Simple tips I recommend for any photographer to become more green include: reducing/reusing/recycling, using non-toxic/eco-friendly products, employing local vendors and staff, eliminating paper waste (go paperless!), using electronic media, employing energy saving techniques, using public transportation/carpooling, purchasing carbon offsets, and investing in green technology. My company also offers a special eco-friendly wedding photography option for couples interested in having an environmentally friendly wedding album. These albums are made by Cypress, an environmentally sustainable company, and are:
• Acid-free, which keeps your photos in a PH-neutral, archival environment.
•Tree-free, made from 100% cotton linters, which are a waste byproduct of the textile industry.
•Chlorine bleach-free, keeping harmful chemicals out of our homes, not to mention our water sources.
•Sourced from environmentally conscious suppliers.

5) I have had the pleasure to work for, as well as photograph, many San Francisco Bay area green businesses and environmental organizations. I always enjoy working with companies who’s mission are in line with my own values. Just a few of my favorites include:

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)-Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems. EDF is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including access to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems. Guided by science, EDF evaluates environmental problems and works to create and advocate solutions that win lasting political, economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-efficient and fair.

Pet Camp:
Located in San Francisco, Pet Camp offers day care and boarding services for both cats and dogs. They’ve made a commitment to being green by becoming a Certified Green Business in San Francisco, as well as installing Big Ass Fans, converting the dog poo into energy, installing energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling and plumbing.

Alonzo Printing:
Alonzo Printing Company was incorporated in 1976 and has grown to become known as one of the premier printing companies in the Bay Area. Centrally located in Hayward, the professionalism and dedication of Alonzo’s work force is evident in the quality of products they produce, which have earned numerous awards for printing excellence. Alonzo has been green before the term became a buzz word…they use all recycled paper, soy based inks, and employ energy saving techinques such as turning off all lights & machines when not in use, and installing energy efficient lighting. Alonzo also has in the works to coordinate a shuttle to its facilities from the BART station, to encourage its employees to use public transit.

Veritable Vegetable:
Founded in 1974, Veritable Vegetable is the nation’s oldest distributor of certified organic produce. Veritable Vegetable’s warehouse facility measures 25,000 square feet and its inventory contains over 9700 items, of which 97% is Certified Organic. Currently, Veritable Vegetable has employed eco-paint, flooring, furniture and lighting for its administrative offices, as well as temperature regulated fridges, timed energy efficient lights, and natural gas powered trucks. And, one of the many benefits of working at Veritable Vegetable, employees have access to the freshest organic produce at less than wholesale prices….YUM!

Lick Wilmerding High School:
Lick-Wilmerding is an independent, college preparatory, co-ed day school in San Francisco serving 440 students in grades 9-12. Lick-Wilmerding High School inspires students to become self-directed lifelong learners who contribute to our world with knowledge, skill, creativity, compassion and can-do confidence. Toward this end, Lick-Wilmerding integrates a distinguished college preparatory curriculum with a distinctive program in the technical arts. As a private school with public purpose, Lick-Wilmerding encourages participation in community service and is committed to developing innovative educational programs that will benefit students and teachers throughout the Bay Area.  This high school is doing some really interesting things to be sustainable: they serve organic food in the cafeteria where they also recycle and compost food waste, have installed solar panels on the roofs of their buildings, integrated “living roofs” into the school’s structures, implemented energy efficient lighting and energy saving techniques, and maintain a plant and meditation garden.

Temple Emanu El:
Dedicated in April 1926, the magnificent building at Lake Street and Arguello Boulevard is the third site of this congregation. Congregation Emanu-El serves the community in many ways. They focus on hunger/poverty, the environment and literacy, offering both direct service and advocacy on behalf of their clients. They operate two food pantries and a vegetable garden at their cemetery in Colma; tutoring programs through both Back on Track and the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, and work on a wide range of environmental programs.  Currently, the congregation is making efforts to go green, including recycling, composting, maintaining a garden, offering “green” events to the community (weddings, bar/batmitzvahs, etc), and integrating energy efficient lighting.

If you have more questions about my green/eco-friendly business practices, please feel free to Contact Me.