During the last years, the development of new technologies has been a constant, with a plethora of applications, devices and platforms, we have witnessed the way in which innovation is capable of improving the quality of life of users; however, it is imperative that all companies innovate not only in the scope of their products, but also in the impact they have on the world.
One of the key principles by which we operate as a company is: “Living and working in search of the common good” (part of the Kyosei philosophy). This is being aware that every act we do will have a consequence and therefore a common effort is necessary to make such an impact positive; each person has the power to improve not only their environment, but also the world of others, and that vision today is part of the Social Responsibility identity of each company; How can we generate such influence not only in the work environment, with society in general, and especially with the environment?
Achieving such a goal is not complex, but it does require determination. The keyword is empathy; understand the circumstances of third parties and transform our conduct for their benefit. For example, a couple of years ago, when social isolation had a strong impact on both companies and society due to Covid-19, remote work was implemented as an alternative, facilitating it and therefore improving people’s quality of life. ; who had more time to be with their family, and for themselves.
In addition, being able to feel part of society is another point that every company must adopt. In recent years, more and more women have formed part of the management team of various organizations, which is a watershed towards inclusion and gender preferences, but also in similar policies on age and race.
The panorama is broad, and not only does it have to include our work team, but its scope must also be able to reach the nearby communities that also deserve fair and respectful treatment, because it is not only important to develop solutions that transform the world for a few, but that what we do has the ability to change the environment, and people’s lives; a principle that we believe in Canon Mexicana.
It’s the right way to do things.
But all these initiatives and commitments that we have are useless if as an industry we do not protect and implement environmental sustainability policies that generate an impact. According to the International Telecommunication Union, the amount of electronic waste worldwide that was recycled during 2022 was 17%, and during this year the goal is to increase that figure to 30%.
To reach this goal, it is necessary to implement electronic waste recycling protocols, to maintain contaminants that could be dangerous for the flora and fauna that surrounds us; in this aspect, not only the transformation of resources is important, but also developing programs focused on reforestation; Just as context, an initiative that we currently practice in Mexico is Green Day, a day where we dedicate ourselves to reforesting the Iztaccíhuatl – Popocatépetl area. As of today, we have planted around 12,000 trees in total.
In recent years we have seen great changes in society and technology, as well as the convergence of different generations in the labor market; the appearance of new tools that allow us to do more with less, giving us greater agility, efficiency and capacity; transportation and communication platforms; innovations never stop. And that is something that both companies and the world need, not to stop us.
If industries are capable of understanding the needs of society, we can build a better world for future generations, with greater opportunities, and industries that are sustainable and environmentally responsible. The road is long but the commitment is clear: to continue advancing focused on the common good. A joint responsibility among all of us as companies, regardless of the branch to which they belong, for the future of Mexico and our planet.
Alea iacta est – The die is cast.
*Pedro Monterrubio is manager of Corporate Communication and General Services at Canon Mexicana.
