The increased use of electronics products has dramatically changed and improved our lifestyle.  With the many benefits associated with use and enjoyment of new technologies comes a responsibility.

Panasonic strongly believes that shared responsibility for end of life electronics management should be shared among all parties benefiting from the sale and use of these products.  In turn, manufacturers and retailers who benefit from the sale are taking measures to ensure their environmentally safe and economical disposal.  For example, Panasonic is working to design products with fewer parts, making recycling easier, and has joined forces with other electronics manufacturers to share recycling costs for our branded products and a portion of orphaned electronics.  Selected retailers are beginning to work together to collect an Advanced Recovery Fee (ARF) at point of sale which would in turn assist municipalities in covering recycling costs.  This market-based development in sound recycling will help reduce the cost burden for all parties involved and help keep a great portion of these products from ending up in landfills.

Since 2000 we have sponsored over 1,095 events in 27 States and helped to collect and recycle over 24,052,776 pounds of unwanted electronics.  The states included California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.  During the 2005 calendar year we participated in 155 events and helped to keep approximately 4,012,066 pounds of discarded electronics from ending up in landfills. 

In addition to our support of collection events across the country, Panasonic has teamed up with the Electronic Industries Alliance to provide consumers with an interactive website to help them locate nearby recycling facilities.  EIA’s Consumer Education Initiative helps consumers to easily find convenient nearby collections sites and provides guidance on other reuse and recycling options.

In September 2005, Panasonic’s New Jersey Headquarters hosted an electronic product collection campaign.  This event was aimed at building public awareness of electronics recycling and was open to local residents, business and schools.  Participants were asked to fill out surveys reinforcing their knowledge of recycling.

At Panasonic we continue to advocate the sustainable and environmentally sound management of electronic products at their end of life.  We firmly believe it is our societal obligation to develop an environmentally conscious plan to recycle our end of life products.