Ricoh Global Eco Action 2018

TOKYO, May 30, 2018 – The Ricoh Group has announced its annual “Ricoh Global Eco Action” month starting on Friday, June 1. “Ricoh Global Eco Action” 2018 encourages Group company employees to think about the environment and take eco actions, and Ricoh will conduct a number of special events across the world.

“Ricoh Global Eco Action” began in 2006, and is organised annually. This year will mark the 13th year of the event. In addition, Ricoh will also observe on one single day across the entire Ricoh Group a “Common Action Day”, which will take place on Tuesday, June 5, which is the “United Nations World Environment Day.”

The United Nations adopted the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, and major efforts are now underway around the world with the aim of achieving the 17 goals by 2030, as part of a movement to achieve an inclusive society in which “no one is left behind.”

In its Mid-Term Management Plan, which started in fiscal 2017, the Ricoh Group restated its absolute commitment to simultaneously resolving social issues and growing its business. Ricoh selected eight key SDGs with particularly high relevance to resolving social issues through business activities, and based on these it outlined five material issues.

The goal of achieving both a zero-carbon society and circular economy has led Ricoh to establishing Ricoh Group’s Environmental Goals. One target will be to achieve zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by 2050. The Ricoh Group will also strengthen its initiatives to achieve a zero-carbon society, such as joining in RE100(*), a global initiative committed to actively using renewable energy. Ricoh is the first Japanese company to join in this initiative.

The Ricoh Group also places great importance on activities such as “Ricoh Global Eco Action”, which provides an opportunity for each of its 100,000 employees around the world to join forces with families, friends, local residents and customers to engage in global environmental conservation activities, and raise more awareness for social issues than ever before. The Ricoh Group will encourage participation in activities and sharing information through many events, with the aim of developing the scope of this eco action on an even larger scale.

(*) RE100： A global initiative established by companies that agreed a goal of procuring 100% of the electricity required for their businesses from renewable energy sources. Ricoh has committed to using a minimum of 30% renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2050.

Major activities for this year are shown below.

Activities to be conducted on June 5, the “Common Action Day”

• Ricoh will turn off Ricoh logo signboards at all Group companies around the world.
• Employees will come to work wearing something green to highlight “Ricoh Global Eco Action” month.
• Ricoh will hold a symposium, inviting external organizations. Through discussion, the symposium will consider the creation of new business models, leading to concrete actions to achieve a zero-carbon society.

Activities at specific sites

• Ricoh Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. 
  To hold an event titled “Eco Action Day - Industry Innovation in the Year of Climate Action Roundtable” in Singapore (May 31). The event will bring together Government, senior business and academic leaders who will discuss how the full potential of sustainable industrialisation and infrastructure development will contribute to Singapore’s greener future during the 12th edition of the annual Eco Action Day.

• Ricoh Europe PLC 
  To hold an activity entitled “Step Challenge”, in which employees will be asked to compete in teams of 5 to see by how much they can reduce their CO2 emissions, using an app to track and record their steps (without using a car). Participants will be asked to donate £5 per person to take part in the challenge, and all proceeds will go to Alzheimer’s Research.

• Ricoh USA, Inc. and Ricoh Canada, Inc. 
  To share and promote an “Eco Mind” both internally and externally by adding Ricoh’s sustainability message in employees’ e-mail signatures.

• Ricoh Japan Corporation 
  To participate in activities to clean up the Arakawa River alongside employees, their families, customers, and local residents, and learn about creatures in this river and how to protect them. (June 2) 

• Ricoh Group employees 
  To sign their own eco declarations on the intranet, showing their commitment to actively participating in environmental conservation activities at home and in the community, as well as in the office.

Award activities

The Ricoh Sustainability Management Division will award employees that especially contribute to eco actions rolled out around the world.

Awarding green fashion leaders:

Ricoh will award individuals or groups that wear something green and thereby contribute to raising awareness of Ricoh Global Eco Action month.

Awarding groups that carried out collaborative actions with stakeholders:

Ricoh will award groups that expanded their activities by collaborating with stakeholders, including both customers and local residents.