Panasonic
Panasonic, a global driver in the electronics industry, is comprised of over 600 companies with more than 328,000 employees, Panasonic has embarked on a management plan called “Eco-Ideas” which stands for: Global Progress, Global Profits, and Global Panasonic. This plan outlines four major responsibilities in relation to its multiple stakeholders:
- Creating Valuable Products and Services
- Contributing to a sound society
- Creating an excellent workplace
- Coexistence with the global environment
Panasonic brought in The Natural Step to help it move toward sustainability with a comprehensive, strategic approach. There are already substantial results. Panasonic has introduced a variety of products that save energy and reduce natural resource usage as well as products that prevent unnecessary introduction of hazardous material to the natural system (such as lead free plasma displays).
Internally, Panasonic has implemented initiatives to guarantee an equitable, safe, and flexible workplace. There is a new green procurement policy as well as Clean Factory Initiative to decrease the environmental impact of their operations.
Externally, the company has developed stronger service programs for customers and strengthened development systems to ensure safer, more durable and environmentally friendly products.
Next steps for Panasonic include extending the green procurement policy throughout the supply chain and reducing greenhouse gases throughout the company’s operations.
This summary was written Tim Nichols, a 2008 graduate of the Master’s in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability Program in April of 2008.