Business

Friday October 2, 2009

Panasonic upbeat on new concept


PETALING JAYA: Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd is leading the way in environmental concerns by adopting the Mottainai concept to establish itself as an “eco-friendly brand” with the aim to educate the public to use natural resources efficiently via 3R: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Mottainai in Japanese means “what a waste” or “not to waste” and can be expressed as an exclamation when something important, such as food or time, is wasted.

Managing director Tony Endoh said the company would educate the public on creative ways to save energy, money and the environment for “greener” living at its eco-ideas exhibition themed Power of Innovation at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from today to Sunday.

“Visitors will be presented with various interactive and engaging eco activities, Panasonic eco-friendly products ranging from home aplliances to audio visual, business systems stimulation and integration, beauty tips and even cooking demonstration by celebrity Amy Beh,” Endoh said in a statement.

He said the company hoped that it could effectively communicate and share the Mottainai concept with the public through various channels that Panasonic had created such as its web portal, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, exhibition and advertising campaigns.

Endoh said the web portal was launched on Sept 15.

“The first CSR pilot project on Mottainai education was conducted on 40 pre-school children from Beacon House Subang Jaya last month followed by an eco-exhibition from Oct 1 to the end of the month,” he said.

Panasonic associate director (consumer product marketing) Cheng Chee Chung said the company was seeing a shift in consumer trend to energy-saving products from traditonal products.

“Panasonic’s overall sales from eco-friendly products increased tremendously last year to over 30% from 13% previously,” said Cheng.

He said the company expected to see another 10% from now until the end of its financial year ending March 31, 2010, boosted by eco-friendly products.

Bernama reported Endoh as saying that Panasonic targeted sales of RM1.7bil for this financial year.

On its audio-visual products, Cheng said the company was confident of a 20% sales growth.

At the three-day exhibition, eight new products will be introduced.

“The exhibition is designed with style and interaction in mind and embraces the Mottainai concept,” he said.

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