The Panasonic Approach To Sustainability

Panasonic’s view of sustainability is deeply rooted in its management philosophy, which has remained unchanged for the last 100 years. As such, it is reflected in the principles laid down by the founder, Konosuke Matsushita, who called for the company to “make contributions to the progress of society and the well-being of people through our business activities.” As the company proceeds with its next 100 years, this spirit is still very much alive, as expressed in Panasonic’s corporate slogan, “A Better Life, A Better World,” which was established in 2013.

Panasonic and Its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Panasonic views SDGs as social contributions, and positions them as core businesses to promote social development. They take the form of projects, such as the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project, Off-grid Solutions, and Fujisawa SST, which are introduced here as examples. The 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project, in particular, is not only a key element to achieving No Poverty, which is the first item on the SDG list, but also aims to help resolve a diverse range of environmental and social issues, including Affordable and Clean Energy, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, and Gender Equality.

100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project

The Solar Lanterns Project, which began in 2013, set a goal of donating 100,000 solar lanterns to Launched in April 2018, this SDG combines educational activities and equipment for people living in off-grid areas, thus deprived of electrical power. It promotes a basic understanding of electricity and provides a variety of products, such as a stand-alone Power Supply Station and Solar Storage System for use in non-electrified areas. The concept of Off-grid Solutions is based on Konosuke Matsushita’s corporate mission to eliminate poverty.

Off-grid Solutions

Fujisawa SST (Sustainable Smart Town) is a sustainable town that is designed to last for the next 100 years. It has been constructed on a former Panasonic factory site in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It sets stringent environmental and energy targets, and works to achieve them by maximizing energy efficiency, energy creation (with solar cells, fuel cells, etc.), energy storage (with storage batteries, etc.), and energy saving (which has always been a Panasonic specialty).

Since it was founded in 1918, Panasonic has worked to improve the lives of people worldwide and contribute to social progress. These basic principles still guide the company and its SDGs today, taking concrete form as the brand slogan, “A Better Life, A Better World.” Panasonic will continue to forge ahead based on these principles, determined to help resolve the many issues that the world faces, and to develop SDGs wherever and whenever needed.

Fujisawa SST