Promotion of Circular Economy
Alongside changes in customer lifestyles, there is a growing global trend for customers to use only specific functions of a product, rather than using or owning the whole product. In Europe, building a circular economy for sustainable economic growth has become a major economic strategy, in a move away from continuous resource consumption.
This trend is spreading around the world along with the change in customers' sense of values. In compliance with the Circular Economy Group Policy, the Panasonic Group is moving forward in efforts to promote effective utilization of resources and maximization of customer value.
The circular economy activities we promote have two aspects: 1) creation of circular economy businesses, and 2) evolution of recycling-oriented manufacturing.
In order to realize the new value of using only product functionalities, instead of using or owning the whole product, we will strive to create circular economy businesses. For instance, these include a "Sharing service", where multiple users use the same individual product, a "Product as a service" where services are fulfilled based on functions, and "Repair and Maintenance, Refurbish and Remanufacturing", where functions, values, and the lifecycle of a product are utilized in the most efficient manner by recycling or reusing the product itself or the components used in the products.
Alongside this, we continue to implement recycling-oriented manufacturing by reducing the total amount of resources used, utilizing sustainable resources, and striving towards zero waste emissions. Furthermore, we continue to develop recycling-oriented manufacturing to a higher level by using innovative materials and the latest digital technologies.
With all these activities, we aim to realize both "A better life" and a "Sustainable global environment" towards Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, based on an ecodesign concept which maximizes customer value in use by increasing resource efficiency at each process in design, procurement, and production.
[Concept for the Actions toward Circular Economy]
We will promote effective utilization of resources and maximization of customer value by creating circular economy business and evolving recycling-oriented manufacturing.
In fiscal 2026, we worked toward achieving our individual targets under the GIP2024+1.
As for recycled resin, its cumulative usage in fiscal 2026 reached 17,100 tons. In fact, we could not achieve our initially targeted amount of 25,000 tons within one year because of significant price decreases for virgin plastic, but we promoted producing resin that has characteristics suitable for its usage purposes, securing stable supply, establishing adaptability in production sites to use the recycled resin, and developing recycling technologies.
Although we were unable to launch a completely new circular economy business model according to the target set in GIP2024+1, we proceeded in applying the existing 15 businesses to a wider range of products, including the expanded use of recycled materials.
GIP2028 has newly established targets related to the circular economy. Regarding the use of recycled resin, we have set targets of 17,000 tons for fiscal 2027 and 22,000 tons for fiscal 2028. We will also actively pursue recycled iron as another goal. Regarding circular economy businesses, we will continue to launch new businesses and expand from the existing 15 businesses to 17 by fiscal 2029.
At COP30 in November 2025 in Brazil, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) jointly with the One Planet Network (OPN, hosted by UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)) launched the new Global Circularity Protocol for Businesses, briefly called GCP*1. The GCP has been developed in a global, multi-lateral collaboration with a wide group of stakeholders, including experts from various industries, academia and think tanks, policy makers, standardization bodies, and financial institutions. We support the GCP and have actively participated in its development to provide a practical framework for circular performance management and disclosure for all kinds of businesses globally. As a member of the "GCP Front Runner Coalition" and a proactive company in the circular economy business, we are considering utilizing and implementing the GCP within our Group.
