Canon
Electronics
Japanese multinational corporation specialising in optical and imaging products.

Overall

Owned JPN
Rating D+
About the Ratings
Canon Inc
JPN

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jan 2026)
Canon Inc
Praise
CDP Climate Change score of A-
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of A-.
Source: CDP (2024)
CDP Water Security score of B
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of B.
Source: CDP (2024)
Criticism
13/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2025 KnowTheChain benchmarked 45 information, communications and technology (ICT) companies on their efforts to identify and tackle forced labour risks in their supply chains. This company received a score of 13/100. The average score was 20 and the highest score was 61.
39.2% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 105 companies across five high-risk sectors on their human rights performance. Companies are assessed on their human rights commitments, due-diligence processes, and implementation efforts. This company received a score of 39.2/100. The average score was 53.7 and the highest score was 94.4.
27.6% in Digital Inclusion Benchmark
The 2026 Digital Inclusion Benchmark assessed 200 digital technology companies on how they are helping to advance a more inclusive digital economy and society. The companies were assessed across five measurement areas: access, skills, use, innovation and sustainable value creation. This company received a score of 27.6/100. The average score was 27.7 and the highest score was 85.2.
Information
US recycling report card
The Electronics TakeBack Coalition's Recycling Report Card evaluates takeback and recycling programs for computer, TV, printer and game console companies. The report card focuses on the programs available to consumers in the US, and relies on publicly available information, as of Sept 2010. This company received a grade of F for its recycling efforts in the USA.
D+ grade at Behind the Barcode
D+ grade in the Baptist World Aid Australia's Behind the Barcode 'Ethical Electronics Guide 2016', which grades companies on their efforts to mitigate the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation throughout their supply chains. Assessment criteria fall into four main categories: policies, traceability & transparency, monitoring & training and worker rights. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Chemical poisoning of workers
The Poisonous Pearl is a 2016 report by Good Electronics which focuses on the experiences of (former) workers in the electronics industry in China who are victims of chemical poisoning. The health of all the workers in the report was damaged by exposure to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and n-hexane. All were working in large or small factories in the Pearl River Delta-region of China, an area well known as being a global hub for the production of consumer electronics (ICT). This company is supplied by factories in the region.
Source: SOMO (2016)
48.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 48/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Responsible Minerals Initiative member
This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Source: RMI (2025)
CSR claims
This company has corporate social responsibility claims on its website for environmental and social contribution activities.
Responsible Business Alliance member
This company is a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition), a non-profit coalition of electronics companies which supports the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities worldwide affected by the global electronics supply chain. RBA members commit and are held accountable to a common Code of Conduct and utilize a range of RBA training and assessment tools to support continuous improvement in the social, environmental and ethical responsibility of their supply chains.
Source: RBA (2022)
39.18% for supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 39.18/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
36% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 36 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
58.1% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 58.1% (Adequate). [Listed under Information due to age of report]
33.8% in Social Benchmark
The 2026 Social Benchmark assessed the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company received a score of 33.8/100. The average score was 20 and the highest score was 75.
Medium ESG Risk
Sustainalytics, a top ESG research firm, evaluates environmental, social, and governance risks for over 16,000 companies. Its ESG Risk Rating reflects how much risk a company faces in its industry and how well it manages those risks. The final score includes both unmanaged and unmanageable risks, and companies are rated on a scale from negligible (0-10) to severe (40+). This company received an ESG Risk Rating of 21.6, placing it in the "medium risk" category (retrieved April 2025).
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Company Details

Type:
Public company
Founded:
1937
Revenue:
27 billion USD (2023)
Employees:
184,034 (2021)
Subsidiaries:
Canon Australia Pty Ltd
Imaging products
Canon's Australian subsidiary was established in 1978.

Contact Details

Address:
Tokyo, Japan
Website:
global.canon/en/

Products / Brands

Canon Australia
Canon Cameras/Camcorders
Canon Printers