Resource Conservation / Recycling -Concept, Targets and Results-

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," "promotionof closed loop material recycling," "increasing production and sales of recycled copiers" 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 biomass resin, as a measure against the risk of resource depletion, and develop recycling process technologies with lower environmental impact.

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 biomass toners.

The quantity of reused parts obtained from used products was 1,876 tons in Japan (Graph (1)), or an approximately 2% shortfall from the target for the fiscal year, although the quantity in question increased from the previous year. The main reason behind this was that the sales volume as of the fiscal year end fell below target due to the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Meanwhile, the figure for overseas sites grew to 7,672 tons, exceeding the target for fiscal 2010 (Graph (2)).
The quantity of recycled plastics used in Japan increased to 1,192 tons, while the quantity of resources collected from used products and recirculated overseas increased to 28,161 tons, both of which considerably exceeded the respective target quantity for the fiscal year (Graphs (3) and (4)).
The quantity of used toner cartridges Global promotion of the use of recycled resources based on the "Comet Circle" collected saw a decline in terms of weight, which is due to the weight reduction in the cartridges used in each copier(Table (5)).

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.

• *The number of used copiers collected and the recycling rates in fiscal 2008 shown above do not include data for the Americas and those in fiscal 2010 do not include data for the Americas during the second half of the year due to a system failure there.

[Feature] Reducing environmental impact in parts production processes through technological development
Recycling Business
Recycled Copier
Eco Packaging
“Level Color“ printing