Environmental Volunteer Leader Development Program  (Ricoh Group/Japan)
|
For the conservation of the global environment, it is important for each staff member to carry out activities spontaneously inside and outside the company, maintaining a sense of being a global citizen. Ricoh launched the Environmental Volunteer Leader Development Program in June 1999 as part of its staff training and expanded the program in fiscal 2001 to include staff members working at group companies as well as retired employees. By the end of fiscal 2006, 379 environmental volunteer leaders, including directors, had been fostered. The programs consist of Nature Seminar Elementary Courses, Nature Seminar Intermediate Courses, Forest Seminars, and Ricoh Company Meetings for Environmental Volunteer Leaders. Activities after the seminars are also followed up. After taking a Nature Seminar Elementary Course, each participant engages in volunteer activities involving his or her division or community.
|
Environmental Volunteer Leader Development Program
|
Number of Activities Sponsored by Environmental Volunteer Leaders
 |
|
Number of Participants in Activities Sponsored
by Environmental Volunteer Leaders
 |
 |
 |
Thicket Conservation Activities by Lake Shinsei
On April 8, 16 people, including members of the Hadano Thicket Conservation Group, one of Ricoh's environmental volunteer groups, and their families, carried out conservation activities in thickets by Lake Shinsei in the suburbs of Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture. They swept up fallen leaves in thickets and tried to make wood chips. |
|
Conservation Activities of Shishigaya Green Zone
On November 4, 11 people, including members of the Shishigaya Green Zone Conservation Group—another one of Ricoh's environmental volunteer groups—and their families, carried out conservation activities such as constructing an apartment for insects, weeding, and repairing the protection fence for Kanto tampopo (Japanese dandelions native to the Kanto region) at the Shishigaya Green Zone in Yokohama. |
Activities to Conserve Tanzawa-Harudake-no-Mori
On June 17, 12 members of the Ricoh Yadoriki Shinboku Group—another one of Ricoh's environmental volunteer groups—carried out forest conservation activities in Tanzawa-Harudake-no-Mori in Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture. After weeding, they transplanted five ten-year-old zelkova trees that had grown to about three meters. They will contribute to the creation of a mixed forest of needle-leaved and broad-leaved trees in the future. |
|
Cleaning Up the Natori Riverbed
On June 21, 23 people, including Ricoh environmental volunteer leaders and employees of Tohoku Research and Development Center, Research and Development Group, Ricoh, cleaned up the area from the riverbed of the Natori River at the back of the Kumanodo Shrine and on downstream. Partly because this event was held on the day for Ricoh Global Eco Action, a lot of people participated in spite of the unfavorable conditions after the rain. |
Maintenance of Murase-no-Mori
On September 24, eight Ricoh Group employees participated in maintenance activities at a bamboo forest in Murase-no-Mori in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Along with local residents, they conducted weeding and cut down bamboo. After that, they enjoyed eating "Nagashi Somen" (Japanese thin noodles put in water flowing along a long bamboo gutter) using the bamboo they had cut down and making Baumkuchen. |
|
Activities to Refresh Hadano Farmland
On September 16, nine people, including Ricoh Group employees and its former members, carried out activities to revive the farmland in the suburbs of Ricoh Hatano Plant. Hadano City called on neighboring companies to revive unused farmland, and the activities were carried out in response to this call. The day was favored by good weather, and the planting of Japanese radish went smoothly. A lot of tomatoes, okra, and water melons were harvested. |
|
 |
 |
Expansion of Environmental Volunteer Activities (Ricoh Group/Japan)
|
Environmental volunteer leaders have expanded their activities significantly. Although at first they worked only with their families and friends, they now participate in more extensive activities involving local children and communities. In addition to production sites, sales companies across the country also promote voluntary activities.
|
Expansion of Environmental Volunteer Activities
|
|
