Production: Resource Conservation / Recycling -Concept, Targets and Results-

The Ricoh Group is working globally to maximize resource productivity, primarily by limiting the amount of matter generated that will be discharged, reducing water consumption, and reducing paper consumption. Since fiscal 2008, new reduction efforts have been promoted. These focus on resource waste reduction in the thermal media business, the packaging materials used for transportation between production sites inside and outside of Japan, as well as the discharged matter generated during the production of polymerized toners.
In addition, we established a system in 2005 to conduct audits of contract waste disposal service providers to ensure appropriate disposal of our waste in Japan. To enhance this system, in October 2009 we launched a scheme to recognize excellent service providers.

Reduce the amount of discharged matter in the thermal media business by 10% from the level in fiscal 2006.

Reduce the amount of discharged matter from packaging materials by production volume in the manufacture of imaging systems by 30% from fiscal 2006 levels inside Japan, and from 2007 levels outside Japan.

Reduce the amount of discharged matter per production volume in production of polymerized toners by 17% from the level in fiscal 2007.

In fiscal 2010, the Group’s total amount of discharged matter increased by 16.0% compared with the previous fiscal year (Graph (1)). In the area of discharged matter generated during the production of polymerized toners, reduction per production volume reached 19.5% from the fiscal 2007 level. Discharged matter from packaging materials used for site-to-site transportation decreased in five out of the six target production sites in Japan, due to the introduction of resource-circulating packaging and the review of delivery methods, while five out of the six sites failed to achieve the target of a 30% reduction, largely attributable to an increase in parts procurement from overseas. Discharged matter from the thermal media business increased by 8.6% over the fiscal 2006 level, reflecting an increase in production among other factors.

Under the new Environmental Action Plan, starting in fiscal 2011, we will continue to make efforts to reduce discharged matter focusing on the three priority areas. In the area of polymerized toner production, the new plant of Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd., which went on line in fiscal 2010, will be a new target site. To promote activities to reduce packaging materials for transportation to production sites, we plan to expand target sites in this priority area to 16 locations in Japan and overseas.

• *The total amount of discharged matter generated outside Japan for fiscal 2008 and 2009 has been revised.

Resource recovery rate of discharged matter/Total amount of discharged matter generated/Final amount of discharged matter disposal

Resource recovery rate of discharged matter/Total amount of discharged matter generated/Final amount of discharged matter disposal

• *The total amount of discharged matter generated outside Japan for fiscal 2008 and 2009 has been revised. The final amount of discharged matter disposal in fiscal 2008 consists of sludge in the private sewerage systems of Shanghai Ricoh Digital Equipment Co., Ltd., used in landfills, and part of the sludge used in landfills as a result of Ricoh Thermal Media (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. coming on line.

Resource recovery rate of discharged matter: Amount of resource recovered/amount discharged
Amount of water removed by dehydration, drying, or deacidification is excluded from the calculation for the fiscal 2009 and 2010 rates.

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Graphs (1) to (4) , above, include data for Ricoh's non-production sites.

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Residue left after intermediate treatment is included in the calculation of the amount of resources recovered and final disposal amount for fiscal 2009 and 2010 (Graphs (3) and (4)). Amount of residue from refuse incineration is included in the final disposal amount, even if energy is recovered from the incineration process. Increases in the final amount of discharged matter disposal in Japan in fiscal 2009 and 2010 are attributable to this change in the calculation basis.

Reducing Production-Related Packaging
Reducing Discharged Matter
Waste Disposal