Ricoh ahead of schedule on reducing eco impact

Released 07/07/2010

Inroads made to meet reduction goal of 88% by 2050

Print vendor Ricoh UK has today announced it is a year ahead of its plan to reduce its overall impacts on the environment.

With an extra long-term target to reduce environmental impact by 87.5% by 2050, 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 over 16%. The second interim target to cut a further 20% by 2010 was achieved in 2009, a year before plan.

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 and 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."

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