Ricoh Uses Green Power at Its Global Sites on World Environment Day

Mr. Shigeo Kato, General Manager of the Sustainability Management Division holding the Renewable Energy Certificate

Through the use of the Renewable Energy Certificate that Ricoh bought from the Japan Natural Energy Company Limited, the electricity consumed is considered as being supplied by natural energy. Since 2006, the Ricoh Group has designated June as the Ricoh Global Eco Action Month, and in line with this theme, the Company has held Ricoh Global Eco Action, an environmental event that encourages Group employees to think about the earth and the environment and take “eco actions”. The use of green power is part of the event, and has been conducted since 2014.

This year Ricoh established the Ricoh Group Environmental Goals with the aim of achieving zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by 2050. The Company also expressed its intention to actively use renewable energy, and Ricoh has become the first Japanese company to join the RE100^*2, a global initiative. Achieving the target requires a range of efforts, with Ricoh Global Eco Action being one of the most significant. We will strive to achieve a zero-carbon society to realize zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a variety of activities.

*1:

About the Renewable Energy Certificate System
The Renewable Energy Certificate System considers the electricity generated by natural energy to be a combination of the "actual value of electricity" and "environmental added value," such as energy conservation (reduced consumption of fossil fuels) and the suppression of CO₂ emissions. The certificate issuer sets the price for "environmental added value" and sells it as a "Renewable Energy Certificate." The purchaser of the certificate can combine the "Renewable Energy Certificate" with the electricity purchased. By doing so, the purchaser is considered to be using green power generated by natural energy. The expense paid by the company or local governments for the purchase of the "Renewable Energy Certificate" is used for the maintenance and expansion of the power generation facility through the certificate issuer. In this way, the purchaser of the certificate makes a contribution to the spread of natural energy equal to the amount of green power received from the certificate, even though the purchaser does not have a power generation facility. Interest in the Renewable Energy Certificate System is growing because it is believed to help prevent global warming.

*2:

RE100
A global initiative established by companies that agreed a goal of procuring 100% of the electricity required for their businesses from renewable energy sources. Ricoh has committed to using a minimum of 30% renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2050.