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News Release

Ricoh Turns Off Signage All Over the World on United Nations World Environment Day With the Exception of 100% Eco-Powered Billboards

Tokyo, May 29, 2014— The Ricoh Group will position a whole month, starting on Sunday June 1, as “Ricoh Global Eco Action Month,” with the aim of raising environmental awareness and improving understanding, and actively engaging in environmental conservation activities. As part of these activities, Ricoh will turn off the lights on all billboards and Ricoh logo signboards at all Group companies around the world on Thursday June 5, to coincide with United Nations World Environment Day. Understandably, the 100% eco-powered billboards in New York, London and Sydney will be excluded from this initiative.

“Ricoh Global Eco Action” began in 2006 as an environmental event aimed at raising awareness among group employees all over the world, and has continued to encourage employees to think and act in an environmentally friendly manner since then. The theme for this year’s event, now in its ninth year, is “Sharing the ‘eco mind’ together” As well as taking every opportunity to encourage participation in activities and sharing information via various different media, the aim is to join forces with employees, families, friends, local residents, and customers to develop the scope of eco action on an even larger scale.

Other initiatives will also be taking place, in addition to turning off signage. As part of Ricoh Global Eco Action Month, the Ricoh Group will be asking all employees to sign an eco declaration, showing their commitment to actively participating in environmental activities at home and in the community as well as in the office, and encouraging employees to come to work wearing green clothes and accessories on Thursday June 5, to mark United Nations World Environment Day. Ricoh will work with government agencies and other companies all over the world to organize Eco Action Day events and encourage customers to set their MFPs, printers and other devices to Eco Mode, and is also planning activities in cooperation with local communities.

Again this year, the Ricoh Group will continue to carry out Ricoh Global Eco Action as a springboard to promote environmental initiatives and awareness activities all over the world.

poster for Ricoh Global Eco Action 2014
Poster for Ricoh Global Eco Action 2014

‹Eco-Powered Electronic Billboards›
As with “Ricoh Global Eco Action,” the eco-powered electronic billboards excluded from the upcoming switching off of signage represent one of the measures being undertaken to “expand the circle of global environmental conservation.” The initiative is based on the idea that “even if the billboards don’t light up and fulfill their functions as signage due to weather, we hope that the message the billboards convey will raise many people’s environmental awareness and lead to the realization of a sustainable society.” Experimental lighting began in April 2009, and following the completion of the first billboard at Times Square, New York in 2010, additional billboards were installed in June and July last year in London and Sydney, respectively. The average combined power generation of the three sites has been calculated at approximately 150,000 wh per day.

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About Ricoh

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2014, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,195 billion yen based on the IFRS accounting standard (approx. 21.3 billion USD).
The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/

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