I’m not going to kid anyone and suggest that I’m the only or biggest proponent of this theory, but over the past year or so, I’ve written several articles in various locations expressing the belief that it is businesses that are going to be the ones to break the global warming shackles. In fact, there are many out there who share this view. It will be big business that pushes us all in to a new way of life: a green ecological and sustainable way of life.

The latest big business to jump on this bandwagon is Panasonic, the leading brand owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Back in April of this year, Panasonic launched their "GP3" — their three year business plan. It was the standard boilerplate plan of achieving steady growth with profitability. Panasonic has now added ecological goals to GP3, and they give us reason to smile.

The first smiley goes to their method of determining their reduction of emissions in terms of total global levels, rather than on a per basic unit basis – the latter being the volume of CO2 emissions divided by consolidated sales or production volume.

They’re also using the 2007 production capacity level as the measure by which all future progress of carbon elimination will be measured.

Panasonic is on the ball, both from an ecological and a PR standpoint. They know that we’re going to give them a pat on the back for not changing their levels of "acceptable emissions reached" even if their production goes up. But, we’re giving them a pat on the back because it is a good ecological move.

But they’re not just settling with making their manufacturing green: they want these new initiatives to be a yardstick for all facets of their business.

Panasonic is looking to reduce CO2 emissions from aspects of their business including (but not limited too) product planning, procurement, sales, logistics and recycling by improving productivity. They’ll also be looking not only at CO2 emissions, but also their use of water and their energy consumption from electricity, gas and fuel oil.

In addition to the manufacturing and business side of their new green policies, the products that are a result of all these new initiatives will also be ecologically friendly. They hope to make products that they say will "lead the industry" in "energy-efficiency," meanwhile reducing the amount of products "with poor energy-efficiency."

Lastly, Panasonic is planning on reaching out to communities and movements across the world, and encourage the spread of environmental activities. "Panasonic will take initiative in promoting ecological movements…," they say, and one can only hope that they are true to their word.

It is these kinds of business models that are going to contribute to a reduction in climate change. Let us hope that, following in the wake of companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and IGN, more companies will jump on board.

Panasonic Press Release via ENN — Panasonic to Reduce CO2 Emissions by 300,000 Tons Over Three Years

More from GO

ING to Buy 100% Green Power

Businesses Band Together for Climate Change

More from This Author

Mongabay.com - Business has to lead the Clean Up of the Enviroment