Ricoh's proactive approach to global warming

Ricoh - www.ricoh.com/environment

Ricoh's mission
One of the most pressing issues of our time is the state of the environment. In order to sustain it we must look into the future and act today. The Ricoh Group is doing exactly that. Not only is Ricoh the leading provider of digital office equipment, but also the forerunner in the efforts to prevent global warming. While the Kyoto Protocol sets a six percent, CO2 reduction goal from the 1990 level, for Japan, Ricoh is aiming even higher with the goal of a twelve percent, by 2010. And Ricoh's commitment to a more sustainable environment doesn't end with Japanby the year 2010, Ricoh's goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by ten percent from the 1998 level, at their manufacturing bases worldwide. Through the adoption of a long-term environmental plan Ricoh is going beyond what is expected.

Innovations in manufacturing processes
Innovations are necessary in order to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. And, by downsizing production lines, spillover effects in associated equipment can be expected. Ricoh is making numerous efforts to meet their ambitious CO2 reduction objective.

One of Ricoh's tasks is to downsize production lines for photoconductor, which are manufactured at large-scale facilities, and are both financially and environmentally adverse. Therefore, Ricoh had to completely re-evaluate its production processes and implement drastic innovations. By switching from the alignment of several tens of photoconductor on a palette to a one-at-a time production method, the facility ultimately became smaller and more cost effective- requiring onefourth less the installation space and one-third less the capital investment, over the traditional lines. This breakthrough development occurred in 2004, when one of the major manufacturing subsidiaries of the Ricoh Group in China- Ricoh Asia Industry Ltd.- successfully installed its first downsized production line by establishing a small, inexpensive, easy to carry, ready to use, and environmentally compatible line. The realization of a downsized production line reduced CO2 emissions to less than one-third per photoconductor, thus surpassing their original goal.

By focusing on innovations in manufacturing processes Ricoh can expect spillover effects resulting from such as their approach in airconditioning. The large, conventional production lines required a big space, and thus consumed a huge amount of energy to clean the air throughout the entire facility. Now with smaller production lines, a local airconditioning system can be used, requiring only one-ninety second the space of the previous system.

Another effort Ricoh made towards lowering CO2 emissions was the development of their On-demand Toner Filling Machine, in 2003. This machine used only one-fortieth of the previous installation space, and only one-fourth of the electricity previously required.

In addition, Ricoh uses other more common methods of reducing CO2 emissions by utilizing natural energy sources such as solar power, wind power, and others. Ricoh even fulfilled a five-year agreement in March 2003, to purchase biomass green electricity, which is expected to further reduce annual CO2 emissions.

Additionally, as of July 2005, Ricoh has introduced a more efficient facility at its Fukui Plant with a cogeneration system that relies on liquefied natural gas. The new construction and installation of this facility is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately five thousand tons/yearly, which would result in a twenty-three percent reduction of the Fukui Plant's total emissions.

CDM
Ricoh uses the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as a tool to reduce CO2 emissions in the event of unexpected production expansions and/or fluctuating power supplies. Ricoh only uses CDM as a risk management strategy and is very specific when choosing a project. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a main point of evaluation and is a priority over cost performance. In other words, all CDM projects must be valuable from the perspective of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Basically, all chosen projects contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and improvement of living standards of the local population. In addition, reforestation projects must be recognized by environmental NGO's.

For example, Ricoh is participating in an environmental NGO's reforestation project that is taking place in the Maquipucuna Nature Reserve and La Perla Forest in Ecuador. The Conservation International (CI) project met all of the standards upheld by Ricoh- ecosystem recovery, improvement in the local living standards, and CO2 absorption through reforestation. The project is more challenging than just merely planting vegetation- fifteen different types of seeds are necessary for a favorable recovery of the ecosystem. CI also plans to employ local people to conduct the reforestation project and maintain/manage the virgin forests over the next five years.

Ricoh is a unique company, never loosing sight of profit in order to maintain the status of a financially thriving business, while at the same time, improving the environment. By far, Ricoh is playing an exemplary role in maintaining a sustainable and clean environment.

For more information: Corporate Environment Division, envinfo@ricoh.co.jp