Summary 21/100
Panasonic has many areas of opportunity to improve its Leaderboard score. With a diverse product portfolio, the company has most concertedly focused on product efficiency, and demonstrates strong industry leadership in that arena. However, Panasonic does not lead the pack on any other climate criteria.
The company needs to demonstrate more case studies with its building energy management technology to quantify the potential for societal greenhouse gas emissions savings. Panasonic has offered a number of calculators, but the assumptions are weak and lacking in detail. Similarly, the companies footprint mitigation efforts need to scale up dramatically to impact the company’s score for energy impacts.
Advocacy efforts are almost non-existent, and Panasonic failed to differentiate a position from that of JEITA, which opposes Japan’s greenhouse gas target. A company with so much consumer reach and recognition could very effectively apply its brand towards promoting climate and energy policies, but Panasonic has thus far failed to do so.
Climate Solutions
Current Savings Calculations
Panasonic’s best GHG savings case study involves data generated from its own use of its Building Energy Management System (BEMS), where Panasonic has achieved 10% reduction in its own energy use.
Public Metrics
On its main eco webpage, Panasonic offers some basic data in calculating emissions saved by actions such as avoided business travel and reduced paper usage. More detail and assumptions are needed here.
Investment
According to the Carbon Disclosure Project, Panasonic invested a scant US$8 million in FY2010 in product environmental R&D. The company also bought Sanyo, which has a significant solar cell unit.
Future Savings Goal
No future savings goal.
Energy Impact
Reduction Target
Panasonic has set a goal for fiscal 2019 to reduce its CO2 emissions by 120 million tons, which is 50% of its fiscal 2006 levels. However, the goal includes emissions from product use, whereas data from its baseline year of 2006 does not. The proposed reductions of GHG emissions from manufacturing therefore cannot be assessed. Panasonic needs to set a new target specifically for its scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions.
Mitigation
Panasonic has ambition to become the greenest innovation company in the Electronics industry by 2018. Its plan needs to include a more robust mitigation plan if it hopes to meet this ambition.
Supply Chain Footprint
Panasonic reports on its operational and internal supply chain GHG emissions, though the company doesn’t report emissions from external suppliers. Panasonic reports that 100% of new models of TVs meet the latest ES requirement, and most models (nearly 84%) exceed the standby mode requirement by 70% or more. 100% of External Power Supplies for mobile phones for the Japanese market meet the previous Energy Star requirement and exceed it in no load mode by approx. 85%. 100% of currently sold PCs meet the latest Energy Star requirement.
Political Advocacy
Speech
No recorded applicable speech from Panasonic
Political Policy
In 2009, Panasonic expressed general support for then Prime Minister Hatoyama’s target of 25% reductions in Japan from 1990 levels by 2020. Since then, draft legislation has been introduced in Parliament to codify this commitment. Panasonic has been silent on this legislation while their trade association has actively opposed the draft legislation.
Repetition Bonus
No applicable examples of advocacy repetition.
Negative Lobby Penalty
Panasonic is part of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), which opposes the Japanese 25% greenhouse gas reduction legislation being debated in the Diet. Pansonic needs to publicly and explicitly express support in favor of the 25% legislation in Parliament, publicly distancing itself from JEITA on this matter.
Panasonic's scores to date
| Leaderboard | Score |
| Version 1 |
- |
| Version 2 |
8 |
| Version 3 |
14 |
| Version 4 |
21 |