Ricoh & the Environment

Environment

Environmental protection is a key management priority at Ricoh. Our products and systems are environmentally conscious because of this commitment. Formal efforts to protect the environment started at Ricoh in 1976, when the company established the Environment Promotion Office.

Over the past two decades, Ricoh and its subsidiaries initiated many programmes to co-ordinate activities related to the environment. In 1992, we formulated the Ricoh General Principles on the Environment to better reflect management’s emphasis on environmental protection.

The Principles have important requirements. We endeavour to maintain the quality of the environment at Ricoh facilities and in the offices where our products are used. Conservation is a key consideration in product planning, development, and design, and extends to sales and service. Finally, Ricoh Group members must set their own ongoing environmental goals and monitor their progress.

Working to Protect the Environment

Ricoh can help you achieve your environmental objectives through our products and services which save energy, reduce waste to landfill and increase recycling. Our global environmental activities are well regarded – Ricoh was rated top in 2005 for corporate responsibility in a leading IT sector study by oekom research AG - and in the UK we have pioneered many initiatives including a unique Green Centre, zero waste status for manufacturing sites and accreditation to key environmental standards.

At its head office, Ricoh UK has replaced all office lighting for a better working environment and energy savings of 60%.

By introducing a return service for used cartridges and with the help of UK cartridge collections, Ricoh has gathered almost 60,000 cartridges in the last three years, representing over 30% of our total cartridge sales.

Ricoh UK has cut waste to landfill by over 92% since introducing a waste management system in 2001.Waste management costs fell by over 62%, despite increases in landfill tax and waste carriage charges.

What Matters to Customers?

Ricoh’s environmental priorities are simple:

Save energy

Reduce waste to landfill

Increase recycling

Raise awareness

Environmental credentials and accountability of each member of the supply chain

Environmental impact during manufacture and disposal

Energy consumption of the products when in use

Ricoh Environmental Initiatives

Our global environmental activities lead the industry and include:

ISO14001 accreditation for every Ricoh office. This is the leading environmental management standard and governs how Ricoh controls its impact and influence.

Energy Star accreditation on all products.

RoHS standards compliance.

‘Zero Waste’ status for all manufacturing sites, meaning no waste is sent to landfill. This will be extended to Ricoh’s UK head office by 2007

CO2 emissions targets aim to cut output in all facilities across Europe by 10% by 2012.