
Responding to COVID-19
A statement from EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa
On the 26th of February, EKO Instruments Japan were due to begin exhibiting at Smart Energy Week 2020; ...
A statement from EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa
On the 26th of February, EKO Instruments Japan were due to begin exhibiting at Smart Energy Week 2020; ...
PRESS RELEASE:
2022 Challenge to phase out all single-use plastics
EKO Instruments Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) have issued a public pledge to phase out all possible single-use, and non-recyclable plastics from product packaging by the end of 2022. The pledge, made globally via social media on 12/31, covers all of the companies own products, such as environmental sensors and other scientific instruments.
Many everyday items are categorised as single-use or disposable plastics, including plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, water bottles, packing materials, and most food packaging. The majority of these plastics are not recyclable.
Plastic pollution is one part of the wider ‘Climate Emergency’ and a rapidly growing problem. Roughly 300 million tons of plastics are produced each year globally[i], and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use, often ending up in oceans and landfill. It is estimated that the worlds’ oceans already contain more than 150 million tons of plastic[ii].
Speaking about the pledge, EKO Instruments President, Toshikazu Hasegawa said “We wanted to set an ambitious, but achievable goal. To take the first step, as a company, in addressing the global challenge of pollution and the climate crisis”. He went on to explain that “this isn’t a Japanese problem, a China, US, or European problem; it is a global problem, a human challenge.”
The pledge commits EKO to the re-design of all product packaging within three years. The initial goal will be to use less and more environmentally friendly alternatives, before finally transitioning to no single-use or non-recyclable plastics.
As EKO produces highly sensitive scientific instruments for use in the renewable energy industry, research, and academia, it is imperative that when products are packaged and shipped, often around the world, that they are safe from sudden drops, vibration, and other potentially damaging events or conditions.
Discussing the origin of the pledge, President Hasegawa explained that “it is an idea based on our corporate philosophy, that we have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation and protection of our natural environment… it was also driven internally by our management team and colleagues; everyone expressed a desire to take action.”
EKO hope to use their experience to help educate other companies about the challenges and potential solutions to plastic pollution, with plans to document and share the lessons they learn, and their progress towards achieving their goal, via social media.
For more information about the pledge, please contact marketing@eko-instruments.com.
[ii] https://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768
About EKO INSTRUMENTS CO,. LTD.
Over 90 years of Japanese reliability & precision in solar energy sensors, environmental science, and material analysis. EKO designed and built instruments are today deployed around the world, supporting environmental research and renewable energy projects through continuous innovation, industry leading turn-key solutions, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.
In 2013, EKO Instruments became the first solar sensor manufacturer in the world to achieve ISO 17025 accreditation at our international testing and calibration laboratory in Tokyo, Japan; giving our partners and customers added confidence in the precision and reliability of our measuring instruments and calibration methods.
For additional information, please go to https://eko.co.jp OR facebook.com/ekoinstruments
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