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Promotion of sustainable environmental management
Promotion of sustainable environmental management
Conservation of Biodiversity
Taking measures for biodiversity conservation
Human society relies heavily on the various “gifts” provided by the earth’s ecosystems, and biodiversity is a big factor in these ecosystems. Believing that the conservation of biodiversity leads to truly affluent and sustainable societies, the Ricoh Group established the Ricoh Group Biodiversity Policy in 2009. In 2010, the Ricoh Group established “Regulations for Ricoh Group Products Made of Wood” for the Procurement of Raw Materials and Wood Materials for Products of the Ricoh Group (developed based on the 2003 Environmental Standards for Paper Product Procurement) to prevent deforestation and, additionally, in response to social demands, we added the requirements of human rights that cover aspects such as labor for the procurement of raw materials.
Based on this policy, we are working to reduce the environmental impacts associated with our business activities while at the same time maintaining and enhancing the earth’s ability to regenerate itself.
Ricoh Group Biodiversity Policy
Society has developed thanks to the earth's abundant natural resources. However, we recognize that the very diversity of life that has supported our environment is in decline; so, in response, we have formulated this biodiversity policy.
Basic Policy
Given that we gain a lot of benefit from living things and pursue business activities that have an impact on biodiversity, we will reduce the impact of our activities on biodiversity and engage proactively in its protection.
Regulations for Ricoh Group products made of wood
From the viewpoint of global environmental conservation and biodiversity protection, this provision shall be established to confirm that the wooden raw materials used in Ricoh brand products and their accessories are legally obtained with consideration for the sustainability of the place of origin in environmental and social aspects prior to the decision of procurement.
Scope
It shall apply to paper products marketed under the Ricoh Group brand (PPC paper, thermal paper, etc.) as well as materials made of wood, which accompany with Ricoh Group brand products (seals, manuals, packaging material, cushion material, etc.).
Requirements for raw materials provided by suppliers
- Confirmation of legality of lumber in the country of origin at the time of production.
- Wood produced from a forest where sustainable forest management is practiced without adverse environmental or social impact at the time of production.
- The products delivered to the Ricoh Group do not use wood procured by a “Supplier with Problems.“
Biodiversity conservation through business activities
Map of Corporate Activities and Biodiversity
By elucidating the relationship between our business activities and ecosystems, we carry out biodiversity-friendly business activities.
The Ricoh Group uses a map specifically created to show the exact relationship between our business activities and biodiversity. The “Map of Corporate Activities and Biodiversity” shows the relationship between our corporate activities, such as product life cycle and land use activities, and biodiversity at a glance.
From the map, we learned that the copier industry has a large impact on the ecosystem due to procurement of raw materials (e.g., paper pulp and metals) and manufacturing and consumption of paper. We will use the information from the map in our conservation activities in close cooperation with each business division.
Map of Corporate Activities and Biodiversity
Ricoh’s forest conservation activities - One Million Trees Project
Ricoh’s forest conservation activities - One Million Trees Project
We also implement forest conservation activities in partnership with specialists such as environmental NGOs, as well as activities to conserve Satoyama in cooperation with various stakeholders, including local governments and local residents.
Target
Planting one million trees (FY2020~2030)
Results
| FY2020 | FY2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Achievement (K trees) | 92 | 149 |
| Cumulative total (K trees) | 92 | 249 |
| Progress (％) | 9.2 | 24.9 |
Since 1999, we have been developing forest conservation activities from a global perspective in partnership with environmental NGOs and other experts. Unlike simple afforestation, the main aims of these activities are to protect the habitats of indigenous species and the lifestyles of local residents, as well as to establish a system for sustainable forestry management.
http://jp.ricoh.com/environment/biodiversity/contribution/forest_ecosystem.html
Examples
Aiming to contribute to the development of local communities, employees of the Ricoh Group have been working together with various stakeholders, including local governments and local residents, on “forest development through cooperative work with stakeholders” since 2017. We work on activities to promote the restoration of rural landscapes with rich biodiversity and the revitalization of communities of local residents.
Examples
The Ricoh Group encourages each employee to have awareness as a global citizen and practice voluntary activities either inside or outside the company.
Employees get together across the country to work on the activities.
Examples
Participation in external initiatives
JBIB (Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity)
JBIB (Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity) was established in April 2008 with the aim of contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in Japan and abroad through the joint research of diverse companies, which could not be accomplished by individual companies acting alone. Ricoh supports these activities and has been promoting them in cooperation with member companies since the establishment of JBIB.
Call to Action（Business for Nature）
In June 2020, Business for Nature (the global coalition that brings together business and conservation organizations and forward-thinking companies) launched a Call-to-Action calling on policymakers around the world to adopt policies that "reverse the loss of nature over the next decade." Ricoh signed off on these activities and promotes them in cooperation with the coalition. The Business for Nature was formed in 2019 by 13 international organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), as "an international coalition of companies seeking comprehensive actions to reverse nature loss and protect the ecosystem."
30 by 30 (Ministry of the Environment)
By 2030, the 30 by 30 initiative (worldwide intergovernmental initiative) aims to halt the loss of biodiversity. Our goal is to conserve more than 30% of the land and sea as healthy ecosystems by 2030, with the goal of restoring them. Ricoh supports these activities and promotes them in cooperation with the participating companies involved in their established in April 2022
