Based on the concept of the Comet Circle that puts "Priority on Inner Loop Recycling," the Ricoh Group is working on recycling materials with less environmental impact and higher economic efficiency by finely prioritizing reuse and recycling processes. As resource depletion becomes an ever pressing issue, the development, design, procurement, production, and collection/recycling divisions at Ricoh are cooperating in such activities as "reduction in size/weight of products and a longer product lifecycle," "enhancement of reuse and recyclability," "promotion of closed-loop material recycling," "improvement of the quality of
recycled machines," and "reduction of packaging materials" as part of efforts to pursue effective utilization of resources and minimize the use of non-recycled, virgin resources in production. We are also striving to invent alternative materials, such as plant-based resin, as a measure against the risk of resource depletion, and develop recycling process technologies with lower environmental impact.
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 - Increase the quantity of reused parts obtained from used products to 1,910 tons by fiscal 2010. (Japan)
- Increase the quantity of reused parts obtained from used products to 6,000 tons by fiscal 2010. (Outside Japan)
- Accomplish the fiscal 2010 target quantity of recycled plastics used (750 tons in Japan).
- Increase the quantity of resources collected from used products and recirculated (quantity of reused resources + quantity of recycled resources) to 16,000 tons by fiscal 2010. (Outside Japan)
- Commercialize plant-based toners.
The quantity of reused parts obtained from used products was 1,735 tons in Japan and 4,898 tons overseas. The quantity of resources collected
from used products and recirculated overseas was 13,623 tons, and efforts are currently being made to further promote recycling to accomplish the set target. The quantity of recycled plastics used in Japan increased to 821 tons, exceeding the target quantity of fiscal 2010.
The number of used copiers collected and the recycling rates in fiscal 2008 shown below does not include data in the Americas due to a system failure there. The quantity of used toner cartridges collected in terms of weight saw a decline, as shown below, but this is partly due to the weight reduction of each cartridge.
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We will continue to effectively use recovered resources by increasing production and sales of recycled copiers as well as through extended use of recycled parts and materials, and thus provide our customers with products with less environmental impact and higher economic efficiency.
For this purpose, it is important to improve resource recycling technologies, and increase the collection rate and collection quality of used products. By effectively utilizing collected resources while minimizing the use of virgin natural resources, Ricoh will contribute to creating a sustainable society.
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(1) Collection results and recycling rates for copiers and toner cartridges
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Amount of used products
collected |
Recycling rate |
| Fiscal 2006 |
Fiscal 2007 |
Fiscal 2008 |
Fiscal 2008 |
| Copiers |
307,047 units |
319,643 units |
264,899 units* |
98.7%* |
| Toner cartridges |
1,023 (t) |
993.5 (t) |
982.6 (t) |
99.0% |
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- *
- Figures do not include data for the Americas. Please see Review of Fiscal 2008.
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(2) Quantity of reused parts
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(3) Quantity of recycled plastics
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(4) Quantity of reused parts
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(5) Quantity of recirculated resources
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Segment Environmental Accounting |
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Segment environmental accounting of the product recycling business (Japan)
| Costs |
Effects |
| Economic benefits |
Effect on environmental conservation |
| Items |
Costs |
Items |
Benefits |
| Product recycling cost |
¥632 million |
Sales
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| Social effect |
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| ¥12,999 million |
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| ¥2,115 million |
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Amount of resource recovery: 26,440 (t)
Down 2,229 (t) from that in the previous year |
Amount of final disposal: 117 (t) |
| Collection/resource recovery cost |
¥2,197 million |
| Total cost |
¥2,829 million |
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- *
- Social effect refers to the cost of waste disposal that customers no longer have to pay.
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