Canon U.S.A. Receives Third Consecutive WasteWise Award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. -- EPA Credits Canon With Refurbishing And Remanufacturing More Than 250,000 Products For Resale

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), is among 15 corporate, government, non-profit and education organizations receiving the 2004 WasteWise Program Champion Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for implementing a comprehensive waste reduction program. This year's award recognizes Canon's waste reduction commitment for the third consecutive year.

WasteWise is a free and voluntary partnership program launched by EPA in 1994. The program provides guidance and recognition to more than 1,300 participating organizations working to find practical methods to reduce municipal solid waste and improve financial performance. Canon U.S.A. has participated since 1994.

"Reducing waste is an important daily component of our office, manufacturing and warehouse operations around the world," said Kinya Uchida, president and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We appreciate the continued acknowledgement from the EPA that recognizes our leadership in waste reduction management. Equal attention to environmental protection and economic development is critical for accelerating our corporate environmental initiatives."

Canon will receive the award in the spirit of the company's philosophy of kyosei -- all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future. Information about Canon's worldwide commitment to the environment and a description of some of the company's contributions to the communities in which it operates can be found in the Canon Sustainability Report 2004 at: http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/AboutCanon/ciwenpublnk.html

In presenting a WasteWise award to Canon U.S.A. for the third consecutive time and fourth time in the last five years (previous awards were received during 2000, 2002, 2003), the EPA credited Canon with several key accomplishments in reducing waste, including:

--Canon's worldwide toner cartridge collection and recycling program for printers and copiers that was established in 1990. Canon promotes recycling among customers and has recovered more than 81,000 tons of cartridges.

--Canon refurbished and remanufactured more than 250,000 products for resale in 2003.

--Canon proactively encourages employees to use email and duplex copying to reduce office paper waste.

--Canon extended its waste reduction reach to employee cafeterias, instituting an incentive program that offers employees discounts on beverages if they use their personal mugs rather than disposable cups. Canon also promotes many additional internal conservation activities.

The award to Canon U.S.A. will be presented October 14 at the WasteWise Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, DC. For more information about the program, visit www.epa.gov/wastewise or call 1-800-EPA-WISE (372-9473).

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and is ranked #35 on the Business Week list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues of $24.5 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs more than 10,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

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