The Ricoh Group

Ricoh has long taken a strong interest in environmental conservation, believing corporations should be responsible for more than just reducing the effects of pollution, waste and other types of impact from their business activities. Corporations should also make efforts to strengthen the Earth's various ecosystems, and only when they follow through on both will it be possible to realise a world where environmental impact can be handled by the Earth's own natural regenerative ability.

Self recovery is key

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This belief is based on Ricoh's 3 Ps Balance™ philosophy, where in an ideal society, People, the Planet and Profits are all in balance. The ultimate goal is keeping environmental impact at a level at which it can be handled by the Earth's capacity for self-recovery. Ricoh believes corporations are responsible for the environment on two different levels. The first and most common is the reduction of waste, emissions and carbon dioxide (CO2) output - a normal consequence of business activity. Today, most corporations, including Ricoh, are active at this level of responsibility.

However, corporations must also operate on a second level, undertaking various activities to promote better health and resiliency of the Earth's ecosystems. This approach is often called “environmental stewardship” and takes place in areas apart from the corporation's business activities. The combination of these two levels of activity provides the essential framework for the creation of a sustainable environmental policy. The first level of activity requires a corporation to be directly responsible for its own activities, while the second is based on the fact that corporations have an obligation to help maintain the Earth's ecosystems since they are the basic platforms that allow people, and business activities, to exist in the first place.

Beyond Kyoto

Let's first take a look at how Ricoh is active on the first level. In its production of digital office equipment, Ricoh constantly reviews all stages of design, manufacturing, sales and after-service processes to find ways to make meaningful contributions toward reducing impact on the Earth's environment. These activities have a common aim: to maintain profitability while undertaking environmental activities with the aim of creating truly sustainable solutions.

Ricoh also works hard to reduce CO2 emissions. It was one of the first companies to suggest, and aim for, higher goals than those stipulated in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol , which calls for Japan to reduce its CO2 emissions by 6% by 2010. Ricoh believes that even greater reductions are not only possible, but also necessary, and is already making strong efforts to reduce its combined emissions by 12% over its 1990 levels. Another example of reducing environmental impact is Ricoh's Zero- Waste-to-Landfill program, where waste is reduced as much as possible, with the ultimate goal of 100% resource recovery with no waste whatsoever going into landfill. Ricoh has successfully achieved Zero- Waste-to-Landfill at its major production sites worldwide.

Protecting the Earth’s immune system

Ricoh is also active in the second level of environmental responsibility, working to restore the natural balance of ecosystems. The company has focused its efforts on forest conservation because twothirds of the Earth's living organisms live in forest ecosystems. Since 1999, Ricoh has worked on forest conservation projects worldwide. Rather than simply fund projects undertaken by others, Ricoh has worked actively and closely with various NGOs worldwide to properly understand project objectives and believes only direct involvement can assure projects are truly effective.

One example is Ricoh's support for the Conservation Cocoa Project in Ghana operated by the NGO Conservation International. The project is at the edge of tropical forests in the Kakum conservation area on some 366 km2 of land, which includes a wild animal protection reserve. It is one of the world's most ecologically diverse regions, with some 250,000 native species of wildlife.

The project involves cultivating cacao plants, where organic farming methods help maintain biodiversity. Previously, cutting down trees for the benefit of local business has resulted in decreased tropical forest, exposing native organisms to the risk of extinction. This new approach of cultivating cacao plants, which grow well in the forest shade, is significant because it encourages tropical forest growth. Moreover, these cocoa farms also act as intermediate buffer zones between conservation zones and populated areas, representing “green corridors” to encourage the resurgence of biodiversity.

What makes this project uniquely sustainable is that it performs multiple functions while restoring balance to the natural environment. While this cocoa project was not initially considered a major undertaking, it has become remarkably successful, and now serves as a superior model of sustainable green development in other parts of the world.

Ricoh believes steps must be taken immediately to respond to the current climate change danger. Intending to make every effort to fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate citizen, Ricoh hopes all corporations will acknowledge their responsibilities to the environment from a wider perspective and take positive action for the common good.

W: www.ricoh.com/environment