Sustainability in Action: Ricoh’s Green Vision

Ricoh as a global leader in technology and digital services, has long been at the forefront of environmental sustainability. The Ricoh Group is committed to empowering individuals to find fulfillment through work while contributing to a sustainable future. Guided by its founding principles, the Spirit of Three Loves: Love your neighbor, Love your country, Love your work, Ricoh integrates sustainability into its mission and operations through the "Three Ps Balance": Prosperity (economic activities), People (society), and Planet (environment), the Comet Circle™, and comprehensive environmental policies.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, Ricoh actively addresses social issues, strengthens its operational foundations, and promotes sustainable development. Ricoh has established the ESG Committee, led by the CEO and composed of top executives and business unit presidents. Meeting quarterly, the committee oversees the company’s ESG strategies, identifies risks and opportunities, and ensures alignment with medium- and long-term sustainability goals.

By fostering collaboration across divisions, the ESG Committee drives progress on material issues and advises the Board of Directors on key ESG topics. Ricoh’s robust governance and dedication to sustainability position the company to meet stakeholder expectations and advance its vision of realizing a prosperous, sustainable future for all.

Pursuing the Ideal Society with the Three Ps Balance™

Ricoh Group envisions a sustainable future through the Three Ps Balance™ (Planet, People, and Prosperity) ensuring harmony between environmental preservation, social well-being, and economic growth. By reducing the environmental impact of human activities to levels within the Earth’s self-recovery capabilities, Ricoh strives to create a truly sustainable society.

To achieve this vision, Ricoh has set clear milestones for 2030 and 2050, supported by Environmental Action Plans determined every three years to promote sustainable environmental management. Key initiatives include renewable energy adoption, with solar panels at Ricoh Headquarters since 2021 reducing electricity consumption by 11%. Expansion to Chonburi in FY2023 furthers Ricoh’s commitment to a "Zero Carbon Society" and the RE100 goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.

• Pollution control is a priority, with wastewater treatment systems ensuring compliance with industrial standards and zero canal discharge. 
• Air pollution is managed using a dust collector system, and air quality is monitored to ensure compliance with the Department of Industrial Works’ regulations. 
• Waste is managed under the "Zero Waste to Landfill" concept ensuring all office, service, and refurbishing waste is handled using environmentally friendly methods such as blending fuel, recycling, and energy recovery, in compliance with the regulations. 
• Hazardous substances are strictly controlled under ISO14001 standards, with proper labeling, spill controls, and workplace monitoring to meet labor and industrial safety requirements.

Additionally, Ricoh Thailand (RTH) has maintained Thai Green Label certification for multi-function printers for 15 years, highlighting its leadership in sustainable product innovation. Certified models are automatically listed in the Green Basket database of the Department of Pollution Control.

Ricoh also engages in biodiversity conservation, with activities such as tree planting, canal restoration, and artificial coral creation. These efforts raise employee awareness and contribute to ecological restoration, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Through these initiatives, Ricoh reaffirms its commitment to a sustainable future, ensuring progress for the environment, society, and economy.

The Comet Circle™: Ricoh’s Vision for a Sustainable Society

The Ricoh Group is driving sustainability through its Comet Circle™ concept, established in 1994, which emphasizes reducing environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle. This framework extends beyond Ricoh's operations, involving suppliers, customers, and recycling companies in creating a sustainable society.

The Comet Circle prioritizes inner-loop recycling, focusing on reusing and recycling products and parts to retain their highest economic value. When direct reuse isn’t possible, parts are recycled into high-quality materials within a closed-loop system, minimizing the use of new resources and reducing waste. A multitiered recycling system ensures materials are recycled multiple times, further lowering resource consumption.

Ricoh also emphasizes economically rational recycling, treating used products as valuable resources rather than waste. By partnering with recycling companies and leveraging advanced designs, Ricoh minimizes energy usage and costs in the reuse and recycling process.

Since the inception of the Comet Circle, Ricoh has established systems to recover and reintroduce used products into the market. This approach addresses resource depletion concerns while fostering a sustainable manufacturing model.

Partnerships at every stage of the product lifecycle are vital to reducing environmental impact. From material sourcing to green marketing and customer solutions, Ricoh collaborates with stakeholders to promote sustainability and share knowledge, contributing to a sustainable society for future generations.

Advancing a Recycling-Based Society with Ricoh Thailand

Ricoh Thailand emphasizes efficient resource utilization and environmental protection through two key used product management initiatives: Machine & Part Recycling and Collection and Refill Programs. These initiatives ensure refurbished machines and spare parts meet Ricoh's high-quality standards while supporting proper recycling and disposal practices for used ink cartridges.

By collaborating with licensed companies and adhering to Ricoh Group’s sustainable environmental management policies and ISO 14001 standards, Ricoh Thailand minimizes environmental impact from proper recycling / disposal of used ink cartridges and raises awareness among customers and employees. Additionally, we prevent non-standard refilling practices in the black market to maintain product quality and customer satisfaction. Customers can participate via collection boxes, discount coupon programs, or direct collection services, reinforcing Ricoh’s commitment to a sustainable future.

Ricoh Thailand: A Commitment to Quality, Safety, and Sustainability

Further to the above concept and campaign, Ricoh Thailand ensures compliance with legal and international standards, prioritizing occupational health, safety, and environmental protection. We focus on risk prevention, biodiversity conservation, and reducing climate change impacts across all business operations.

Ricoh Thailand actively promotes sustainable energy and resource use, including recycling initiatives under corporate standards, while engaging employees in conservation efforts. Customer satisfaction and continual improvement remain central to our operations, with robust training programs to enhance employee skills and professionalism.

To strengthen collaboration, RTH fosters open communication and stakeholder participation in sustainability initiatives. Management ensures adequate resources and exemplary leadership to support these goals.

Effective since October 1, 2019, Ricoh Thailand's policy underscores its unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and sustainability, striving for a better tomorrow through innovation and responsibility.

Driving Sustainability for Our Future

Ricoh Thailand actively contributes to sustainability through its CSR programs, such as the Ricoh R-cademy, which focuses on environmental and safety initiatives. In collaboration with green partners, local government offices, and schools in the Pravet District and the wider Bangkok area, the program encourages students to engage in projects that promote environmental conservation and community safety. Through the "Ricoh Eco School Academy" concept and "Kaizen-PDCA" approach, students are empowered to develop solutions aligned with Ricoh’s sustainable management policies and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2009 to 2019. Additionally, Ricoh Thailand celebrates an annual Green and Safety & SDGs month, launched on World Environmental Day, to raise awareness among staff about environmental safety and sustainability efforts.

In conclusion, Ricoh Thailand's dedication to sustainability goes beyond its corporate operations, incorporating both environmental responsibility and active community involvement. Through various initiatives, the company fosters environmental consciousness and social responsibility among employees and younger generations.

By promoting a culture of sustainability within the company and across communities, Ricoh Thailand is not only helping to build a greener future but also driving positive change in society, ensuring that future generations can thrive in a more sustainable world.

Source:  RICOH USA