Our Pledge
To phase out all possible single-use and non-recyclable plastics from our product packaging by the end of 2022.
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, 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.
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.
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”.
This isn’t a Japanese problem, a China, US, or European problem; it is a global problem, a human challenge.
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.”
PROGRESS
We have made significant progress since announcing the 'Plastic Pledge' at the end of 2019 and continue to use our experience to help educate other companies about the challenges and potential solutions to plastic pollution.
To improve efficiencies, cut waste, and build-in re-usability, we have introduced a 'Universal Sensor Design' based on our industry-leading MS-80 Class A Pyranometer, launched in 2016.
This is one of the single most significant changes we could have made, allowing us to use and re-use the same external sunshield with each product and develop a single 'plastic-free' packaging solution.
'Universal Sensor Design' also enables us to reduce packaging waste, and, after extensive development and testing, we were able to launch a new box design in 2020 that almost completely eliminates plastic packing for our most popular products.
We are also attempting to remove some less obvious uses of plastic packagings, such as small bags for screws, plastic tape, and lamination.
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