Environmental Leader

It’s been hard to miss all the headlines about low-carbon calculators. Those have mostly been online tools to help businesses and consumers determine their carbon footprint.

Now in the U.S., Canon is now taking the literal approach to low-carbon calculators, selling calculators with upper and lower casings made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic from old Canon Copiers.

Canon’s recyled-content calculators have been available for more than a year in other markets.

Canon is offering the recycled content calculators in three models:

• the LS-154TG
• the HS-1000TG
• the TS-1200TG

The packaging and instruction manuals included with the calculators are made from recycled paper, according to the release. The calculators sell for $11-20.

The calculators use lithium-ion batteries, which are easier on the environment than traditional options.

Canon U.S.A. Inc. and Toray Industries Inc., last year developed a bio-based plastic, dubbed “Ecodear,” that achieves a high level of flame retardance. The bio-based plastic, which includes more than 25 percent (by weight) of plant-derived component, will be used in exterior plastic parts for Canon multifunction office systems.

In early 2008, Canon began marketing its eco products under the Generation Green banner.

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