Toshiba TEC has today announced that its EPoS
terminals and Auto-ID printers will be the first in the UK to be CarbonZero
by summer 2011. The company has also announced a channel programme to
promote the benefits of the acclaimed co2balance project to its resellers.
The Toshiba Carbon Zero Scheme, in partnership with co2balance, a leading
provider of voluntary carbon offset, is rolling out across the different
Toshiba divisions and is managed in line with the internationally recognised
"Gold Standard", an independent standards body that verifies voluntary
carbon projects.
The system measures the unavoidable carbon produced during the manufacturing
and delivery processes and balances it by reducing carbon output elsewhere.
In this case, Toshiba TEC will pay for an equivalent amount of energy
efficient stoves in Kenya, replacing the need for traditional open fires,
meaning a 70% reduction in the use of firewood and the resulting carbon
production.
Aside from the carbon reduction benefits, the scheme- managed by co2balance-
provides a number of social benefits that improve the lives those living in
communities across Kenya including:
Reduced deforestation and degradation of surrounding forests
Reduced soil erosion and nutrient loss
Reduced risk of flooding
Reduced poverty, as the efficient wood stove reduces annual expenditure on
cooking fuels
Reduced adverse health effects associated with indoor air pollution
Reduced cooking and wood collection time; householders can spend more time
on other household tasks, as well as schooling and supervising children
Reduced exposure of firewood collectors (mainly women and children) to
hazards in remote areas
Reduced burns and injuries from exposure to an open fire
Toshiba TEC will be holding a number of channel days to promote the Toshiba
Carbon Zero Scheme to its resellers and will support them heavily with a new
website, mailers, product stickers and information packs.
"The benefits to everyone are immediately obvious and Reflex is proud to
promote the Carbon neutral programme. Reflex will also ensure all of our
previous installations are retrospectively carbon offset," said Nigel Wilson
of Reflex Labels, a major Toshiba TEC reseller. "For customers with large
estates, the carbon reduction scheme could benefit both new and existing
products."
"Toshiba TEC is very proud to be involved with The African Energy Efficient
Stove Project in Kenya. We do take our C02 production responsibilities very
seriously," said Paul Reynolds, Senior Manager, Toshiba TEC. "And we look
forward to promoting this to our channel," he concluded.