Concept of Product Development |
 |
|
|
The Ricoh Group develops products that during their lifecycles keep the integrated environmental impact below the limit at which the global environment becomes unsustainable. First, Eco Balance data on the environmental impact caused by overall business activities are identified and, based on the results, targets for products covered by the action plans are set (Plan). LCA-based designs are then drawn up, and production process technologies are developed to achieve the targets (Do).
Results from these designs and process technologies are again reviewed alongside the Eco Balance data (Check) before being reflected in the next targets (Act). In addition to technological development directly related to products, we also work on technological development that will help reduce the environmental impact of society as a whole.
We are promoting various activities-such as the development of new/alternative materials, creation of a paperless environment through information technologies,
and introduction of reuse/rewritable technologies to replace paper-to further evolve Ricoh's core technologies into environmental technologies that can be applied in a wider variety of areas.
|
Focused areas for environmental technologies
- *
- Technologies that will contribute to environmental impact reduction throughout society.
 - Develop environmental technologies that will help reduce the environmental impact of society as a whole as well as of business activities.
Acceleration of development of
environmental technologies
|
 |
|
|
The development of environmental technologies is one of the most important efforts to realize sustainable environmental management. It is the basis for providing customers with products that are low in environmental impact throughout their lifecycle from the procurement of materials and use by customers to their recycling,
as well as for simultaneously realizing both a reduction in environmental impact and the creation of economic value. The Ricoh Group is well aware that existing technologies are not sufficient for creating products that will help solve the current problems of climate change and resource depletion,
meet environmental laws and regulations, and expedite the realization of a low-carbon and resource-recirculating society.
Based on this recognition, the Ricoh Group established the Environmental Technology Development Promotion Working Group, a company-wide cross-sectional organization with 92 staff members,
in January 2008 with the aim of accelerating and promoting the development of innovative environmental technologies.
In fiscal 2008, we set targets in the area of technological development based on the Ricoh Group's environmental goals (Year 2050 Long-Term Environmental Vision,
2050 Long-Term/2020 Mid-Term Environmental Impact Reduction Goals, and Environmental Action Plans), and reflected these targets in the technological strategy of each division, which is to be reviewed in fiscal 2009,
and technological development activities performed under the strategy. Six focus areas have been selected under the three fields of "energy conservation," "resource conservation,"and "pollution prevention;" and various development activities are conducted for each of these areas.
|
Ricoh's approach to the development of environmental technologies
Promotion of LCA-based design |
|
|
|
LCA-based design is a process where targets are set to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycles, and the PDCA cycle is used to achieve these targets.
Ricoh developed the LCA calculation tool in fiscal 2006 to enable designers to carry out LCA-based design in a more efficient and effective manner.
This tool is now actively utilized to conduct an LCA for products in the process of development based on their specifications,
and, in accordance with the results, set environmental impact reduction goals for each product.
|
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
LCA means quantitatively identifying which and how much environmental impact exists in the lifecycle of a product, from the resource extraction for the production of raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, marketing, use, maintenance,
collection, recycling, and disposal. LCA may also be applied to part of the above cycle.
|
|
|
|
|
To Top
