London, UK, 07 July, 2010 – Ricoh UK Ltd, a specialist of office solutions, managed document services and production printing, 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]. The second interim target to cut a further 20% by 2010 was achieved in 2009[3], 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
"We’re delighted that we’ve beaten our targets and are ahead of plan,” said Tim Taylor, Environment & Compliance Manager, Ricoh UK. “We’ve already made great strides in reducing the environmental impact of our raw materials and manufacturing processes and we are confident we’ll 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. For a copy of the full report, please email emo@ricoh-europe.com
For more information about Ricoh’s environment strategy visit http://www.ricoh.co.uk/environment/index.xhtml
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About Ricoh UK
Ricoh designs, develops and manufactures a complete range of print and document management, hardware, software and services which are tailored to meet individual customer needs. Its devices print, copy, scan and fax documents as an integrated part of the IT network and enterprise content management system. Software is used to audit usage, manage document flows, simplify business processes, control print expenditure and secure access. The company takes an innovative approach to research and development, having invented the first digital black & white copier and introducing the colour-capable device.
Ricoh established an Environmental Protection Office in 1976, and has been striving to minimise the effect of its activities on the environment ever since. Ricoh UK’s environmental credentials are second to none; it operates a zero-waste policy at all of its manufacturing plants and is investing in carbon reduction technologies to reduce the environmental impact of its operations rather than merely offsetting its carbon footprint. The company operates a dedicated ‘Green Centre’, where old machines are re-commissioned and recycled in line with WEEE Directive guidelines and accredited with ISO14001:2004 for environmental management. Ricoh has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard that requires an organisation to measure, manage and reduce its carbon footprint and, for the fifth consecutive year, has also been named as one of the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World" by the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Further information can be found at www.ricoh.co.uk.
For further information, please call the Ricoh UK PR team at Burson-Marsteller on +44 20 7300 6172
