We collect, integrate, process, and deliver the information needed to provide patients with efficient, high-quality healthcare. We also integrate sustainability into our strategy by applying the ESG pillars of Environment, Social, and Governance. By doing so, we ensure sustainability is part of our corporate DNA, products and services, and our contribution to society as a whole.
We enhance the efficiency of medical professionals' diagnoses and readings by offering the latest technologies and improving diagnostic accuracy.
At the same time, we focus on developing "eco-design products" that aim to reduce environmental impact from the product design stage. Our efforts include saving energy during the product's use in medical institutions and establishing a recycling system for products after their life cycle ends.
We develop products and services to address the numerous challenges facing the medical field, including a shortage of healthcare professionals, an aging population, rising healthcare costs, and disparities in healthcare access across regions.
Additionally, we recognize global business trends and challenges such as the need for increased focus on circularity, measurement and data sharing, water stewardship, biodiversity, social sustainability, and sustainability education and training.
In 2024, we continued to invest in addressing Scope 3 emissions and effectively engaging consumers, while also addressing geopolitical tensions as potential barriers to sustainability investments in our supply chain.
I am proud that Canon Medical Group continues promoting circular economy initiatives to reduce environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.
Additionally, our plan to reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 42% is progressing steadily. We have also set a target to reduce Scope 3 CO2 emissions by 25% by 2030, compared to our 2022 level.
Furthermore, we value coexistence with society and will fulfill our corporate social responsibility by strengthening relationships with local communities, employees, and customers through our corporate activities.
A strong governance structure is essential for a company to achieve sustainable growth. Canon Medical Group has established a unified governance structure throughout the global group, enhancing management transparency and strengthening the relationship of trust with all stakeholders.
In addition, by strengthening internal controls and compliance, we aim to achieve sustainable growth while fulfilling our social responsibilities through early risk detection and prompt and appropriate responses. In this way, we strengthen governance and enhance credibility from a global perspective.
As we continue to face future challenges, we will promote environmental friendliness, social responsibility, and sustainable growth, and remain a trusted company in line with Canon Inc.
I am confident that our efforts will enhance the quality of life for people worldwide and contribute to the healthy development of society. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders for their ongoing support, and I am eager to collaborate with you throughout this endeavor.
Toshio Takiguchi, President and CEO, Canon Medical Systems Corporation
As society's interest in sustainability grows each year, so do the demands placed on us by our stakeholders, and sustainability initiatives are now an essential part of our business. In January 2024, we established the Sustainability & Diversity Promotion Office to promote comprehensive efforts to achieve diversity while advancing sustainability-related management and integrating these initiatives across the Canon Medical Systems Group as a whole. In this report, we outline our efforts in sustainability, aligned with the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pillars, to ensure our stakeholders understand our commitment to sustainability on a global scale. We will continue to collaborate with our stakeholders to develop more sustainable and future-oriented activities.
Osamu Kinoshita, General Manager Sustainability & Diversity Promotion Office, Canon Medical Systems Corporation
Our goal is to provide medical professionals with the solutions they need to enhance the health and well-being of patients worldwide.
Underpinning this goal is our ‘Made for Life’ philosophy, which inspires us to create technologies that provide faster, more accurate diagnoses, better treatment outcomes, and enhanced patient care.
Our philosophy drives us to create a better world for everyone in line with our sustainability policy. Through technological innovation, partnership building, and sustainable practices, we are focused on contributing to the third, eighth, and thirteenth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Toward this end, our key sustainability objectives for 2021-2025 are:
We aim to create societal value for each of our material issues.
1 Creating new value and solving medical issues
1.1 Become a leading innovative global company in the medical field.
1.2 Make progress in medical treatments with the support of medical imaging equipment.
2 Working together with society / contributing to the local community
2.1 Work as a unified global company, enriching local communities.
2.2 Continue supporting local communities.
2.3 Support global initiatives with an impact on local communities in the medical field.
3 Active participation by and development of people from diverse backgrounds
3.1 Respect diverse ways of living and working style, and provide opportunities for each individual to flourish according to their motivation and abilities.
4 Building a Robust and Healthy Organization
4.1 Continuous improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH).
4.2 Building human capital and healthy organizations.
4.3 Promote the development and establishment of reporting mechanisms for ethical and equality issues.
5 Protection and conservation of the global environment
5.1 Contribute to the prevention of climate change.
5.1.1 Carry out CO2 reduction activities following Canon Inc. standards in production bases with high environmental impact.
5.1.2 Decide quantitative CO2 reduction targets in 2022 and develop activities from 2023.
5.2 Further develop activities to recycle waste and reduce chemical substance emissions, following Canon Inc. standards in production bases with high environmental impact.
5.3 Improve water use efficiency.
5.4 Pursue the protection and restoration of nature and its biodiversity globally.
Canon Medical Systems launched the Sustainability & Diversity Promotion Office on January 1, 2024. In its second year, the organization has two primary missions related to sustainability.
Proactive Sustainability:
To contribute to business by collecting global trends and requirements on ESG from international stakeholders, translating them into actual guidelines and action plans, disclosing them appropriately, and appealing to external parties.
Protective Sustainability:
To promote full conformity with various ESG-related laws, regulations, and standards, and ensure thorough compliance within Canon Medical Systems.
The team will continue to work on diversity and inclusion by creating an environment where every employee can be fully engaged, regardless of personal attributes such as gender, nationality, or disability.
Representatives from all our subsidiaries were invited to participate in a global Sustainability meeting in 2025. Data from 2024 was collected through a survey based on standards from the Global Reporting Initiative. Combined with data from Headquarters, a report was created and published in the second quarter of 2025. The Dutch Sustainability Consultants were invited to facilitate and provide advice on the content.
At Canon Medical Systems Corporation, the Sustainability and Diversity Promotion Office coordinates and promotes sustainability activities for the entire group in cooperation with relevant departments.
Important sustainability-related matters are reported to and consulted on for approval by the Sustainability Committee, which is headed by the President and CEO, and by the Board of Directors as necessary.
This report summarizes the sustainability activities carried out by Canon Medical Systems Corporation in 2024 at its headquarters in Japan and subsidiaries around the world: Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, UK, USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
Please get in touch with our Sustainability Coordinator if you have any questions about the process and this report:
"Canon": Represents the entire group, including Canon Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries.
"Canon Inc.": Represents Canon Inc. alone.
“Canon Medical Systems”: Represents the entire group, including Canon Medical Systems Corporation and all of its consolidated subsidiaries.
"Canon Medical Systems Corporation": Represents Canon Medical Systems Corporation alone.