These days, media attention as it relates to sustainable seems to be on obvious areas like oil and gas. That said, we shouldn’t forget about industries that are more directly relevant to what people do on a daily basis. For instance, photography is an important pastime and hobby that many enjoy.

And more than just a means through which people capture their lives’ most precious moments, it’s an industry. That means we should take a look at its environmental impacts.

So far, the camera industry has been relatively shy of sustainability coverage. If you’re wondering how the makers of the world’s most popular cameras look at sustainability, keep reading.

Big-Name Photography Brands Called Out For Not Being Sustainable

In the past, companies like Sony and Panasonic have been labeled as unsustainable by several sources including the Center for Sustainable Organizations. As a result, these companies have set up initiatives they (hopefully) plan to follow.

Sony and Panasonic React To Make Their Businesses More Sustainable

Consequently, Sony has announced it will power 100% of its worldwide operations with renewable energy sources by 2040.

And currently, the company powers 100% of its European operations with renewable resources. Additionally, Panasonic wants to eliminate all of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Canon Has Been Tackling Sustainability For Almost 30 Years

Many of these newer initiatives tend to evoke suspicion about greenwashing among consumers, but Canon’s commitment to sustainability goes back almost 30 years. Since 1990, the company has been collecting copier toner cartridges with the intent to recycle.

And more recently, aside from its work in cameras, the company has been developing lighter, more compact versions of its printers and projectors that use less power.

Canon’s newest Inkjet Printers, look to reduce power usage. Photo Credit: Canon Inc.

Smaller Players Also Look To Make Photography More Sustainable

But efforts to make photography a more sustainable business aren’t just coming from huge companies; startups are getting involved too.

Take, for instance, Lomography, a film upstart hailing from Vienna, which recently announced the release of its new camera, the LomoMod No. 1.

The company makes most of its camera parts out of cardboard. And although the other main feature, the liquid-fill lens, is made of plastic, the camera body is all cardboard, flat-packed to be assembled at home.

The LomoMod No. 1. Photo Credit: Lomography

The flat packing also minimizes space taken up, reducing the amount of packaging required to hold it.

Summary

Though photography is far from being one of the most unsustainable industries, companies that are prioritizing sustainability are allowing it to stay that way.

Whether it’s small photography companies or brands that have become household names, their continued commitment to sustainability will hopefully allow consumers to continue to capture the most important moments in their lives without taking a toll on the environment.