Media Release
30th May 2006

To celebrate World Environment Day (5th June), Canon New Zealand is calling for entries to the Canon Environmental Grant, a $15,000 product grant awarded on an annual basis to facilitate environmental projects.

Individuals or organisations working on, or about to embark upon a project that will impact positively on New Zealand’s environment should apply for the product grant via Canon’s website (www.canon.co.nz) by 31 August 2006.

Canon has a range of products and solutions to assist people to undertake and document environmental work. This includes the latest, high tech visual equipment for field-work, through to advanced office equipment and IT solutions to help the project along indoors.

Tony Wills, Canon New Zealand’s managing director encourages anyone involved in environmental work to apply for the grant.

“We know that in this area funding can be quite limited and resources are often stretched. Canon recognises the importance of having quality equipment to record, document, process and store work, and this is where we hope the Canon Environmental Grant will help,” said Mr Wills.

The Canon Environmental Grant for 2005 went to Antarctica New Zealand to facilitate an environmental impact monitoring programme aimed at minimising the 'footprint' of human activities in Antarctica.

Jana Newman, environmental adviser for Antarctica New Zealand said the organisation has been thrilled to be the inaugural recipient of the Canon Environmental Grant.

“The grant has been invaluable in progressing our visitor site assessment scheme to determine if environmental impacts are occurring in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica as a result of regular human visitation. This scheme will enable us to provide informed advice to operators and regulators on actual or potential environmental impacts and means to mitigate such impacts.

“This monitoring work would not have been feasible without the generous support of Canon. The environmental grant has equipped our monitoring team with EOS20D cameras which have been used to carry out photo monitoring at key sites in the Ross Sea Region. These cameras are integral in this long term monitoring programme, providing us with high resolution, awesome quality images and are a real helping hand in managing environmental impacts in Antarctica.”

Canon stresses environmental protection both in its daily operations and through support activities. From product design, to manufacturing, to sales, use, recycling and reuse, Canon works to conserve energy and resources, maximise product lifecycles and eliminate hazardous materials from its products and processes.

This includes operating the world’s largest toner cartridge return programme, designing energy-efficient office equipment, removing 100 percent of the lead from its photographic lenses, and encouraging employees to adopt environmentally sound work practices.

“The successful applicant will be pleased to know that not only will they have the latest equipment to help them operate more effectively, but that the equipment – like all Canon products – have been designed with the environment in mind,” said Mr Wills.

People or organisations interested in applying for the Canon Environmental Grant should visit canon.co.nz for information and to download application forms. Deadlines for applications close on the 31 August each year. The successful applicant will be notified in September, and the product will be gifted shortly afterwards.

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