Sumitomo Shoji Machinex Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, has launched an air conditioner filter cleaning and reuse service which uses carbon offsets to achieve zero emissions.

Unlike the washable filters used in home air conditioners, filters for air conditioners installed in office buildings were in the past usually replaced once a year. The used filters were shredded and disposed of as industrial waste. In 2001, Sumitomo Shoji Machinex changed this situation by launching a filter reuse service in collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation's Construction & Real Estate Division. As part of this service, used filters are cleaned ultrasonically and restored to a new-like condition. This reduces industrial waste, leading to enhanced environmental benefits and lower building maintenance costs.

The reuse of air conditioner filters also cuts related CO2 emissions by 96% compared with the replacement of standard-type filters. To enhance the environmental benefits even further, under the newly launched service the remaining 4% of CO2 emissions are offset with carbon credits to achieve the industry's first carbon neutral air conditioner filter.

The carbon credits used for the offset are created under a greenhouse gas reduction project in Gujarat, India that is supported by Sumitomo Corporation. The United Nations-certified carbon credits are purchased from Sumitomo Corporation.

As part of its aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, the Japanese government is requiring firms to proactively tackle global warming as part of their business activities. By taking advantage of this filter reuse service, firms are able to voluntarily contribute to helping the government meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. The service is anticipated to become incorporated into the ISO 14001 standard as well as the environmental objectives set forth in the government's Environmental White Paper.