Business News
Ricoh a year ahead of plan for environmental impact reduction
Tuesday 13. July 2010 - Significant inroads made towards meeting long term target to reduce lifecycle environmental impacts by 88% by 2050.
Ricoh Company, Ltd., a specialist of production printing, managed document services and office solutions, today announced that it is a year ahead of its aggressive plan to reduce its overall impacts on the environment.
With an extra long term target to reduce environmental impact by 87.5% by FY2050 [1] , Ricoh has used a back-casting method to establish realistic milestones and set interim targets for 2007, 2010, 2020 and 2030. With the original long term target set in 2004, Ricoh exceeded its first interim target in 2007 by reducing its impact by well over 16%[2] <#_ftn2> . The second interim target to cut a further 20% by 2010 was achieved in 2009[3] <#_ftn3> , well over a year before plan.
By significantly reducing its overall environmental impact, Ricoh is realising its environmental vision to drive sustainability initiatives that not only increase operational efficiencies within the organisation but also reduce the environmental impact of its customers.
The first interim targets have been met through a number of strategic actions:
Introduction of a Chemical Substance Management System to monitor and reduce the impacts of all chemical substances used
Green Procurement policy for the manufacturing companies to create benchmark processes for all purchased items
A Green Partnership programme created with all manufacturing suppliers which not only set targets for impact reduction by suppliers but enables Ricoh to share environmental management best practice
Increased product collection and recycling, as well as more raw material recovery by all sales companies
“Were delighted that weve beaten our targets and are ahead of plan,” says James Deacon, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Ricoh UK. “Weve already made great strides in reducing the environmental impact of our raw materials and manufacturing processes and we are confident well exceed our next interim target by addressing product and material design. By combining ecological concerns with best green business strategies we are simultaneously driving environmental conservation and profitability, whilst helping our customers to fulfil their environmental ambitions.”
The 2010 Ricoh Europe Sustainability Report will be published in September 2010.