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- Achievement of a Zero-Carbon Society
- Initiatives for realizing Zero-Carbon Society
Initiatives for realizing Zero-Carbon Society
Decarbonization in our business activities
We are making innovations in “production processes,” “business locations,” and “the entire supply chain” towards reducing CO2 emissions across all our business activities.
【Initiatives in Production Process】
Implementation of 100% renewable energy at A3 Multifunction Printer production sites worldwide
- Since the summer of 2019, all power used for the assembly and production of A3 multifunction devices at all our global production sites (equivalent to 37 GWh) has been 100% renewable.
- Plants in China and Thailand are realized with the renewable energy certificate I-REC, and sites in Japan are recognized through J-Credit and renewable energy power menus
- With our multifunctional devices actively appealing to customers as products with a lower environmental impact, we foster momentum for the active use of renewable energy and contribute to the realization of a Zero-carbon society together with customers and local communities.
Introduction of New On-Site PPA* Model at Four Locations Globally (In and Outside of Japan)
- In FY2021, on-site PPA was introduced at Ricoh (Thailand) Ltd., Ricoh Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd., Ricoh (Thailand) Ltd.,Ricoh Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd., Ricoh Elemex Corporation, and Ricoh Industries, Ltd.
- The total amount of electricity generated by these six sites, including those already installed, was 5.88 GWh/year (CO2 reduction effect: approx. 3,235 tons/year), which is equivalent to approx. 1.3% of the total electricity consumption of the entire Group.
- The cost reduction effect of Ricoh Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd. was approximately 180 million yen over 12 years.
- RICOH ELEMEX, which started its operation in October 2021, is the first on-site PPA facility in Japan for the Ricoh Group.
* Abbreviation for Power Purchase Agreement: The on-site PPA model is a form of contract in which a power generation company installs power generation units on the site or roof of their customers, and the customer purchases the renewable electricity without purchasing the units.
Installation of Waste Heat Recovery Heat Pumps at Production Sites
- In February 2022, waste heat recovery heat pumps were installed at the South Plant of the Numazu Plant.
- The waste heat being released into the atmosphere from the chiller/refrigerator cooling tower on the rooftop of Plant No. 8 in Numazu Plant will be used to generate hot water at 65°C, which is used in the dissolving process. By reducing the amount of steam consumption by approximately 60% (estimated value), both cost and CO2 emissions reduction (up to 540 tons/year) can be achieved. The ROI is approximately 5 years
- While promoting Scope 2 reductions by switching to renewable electricity, we are also tackling Scope 1 issues such as the use of steam, on which reductions are difficult to achieve
Introduction of Comprehensive Evaluation System for Renewable Electricity
- In addition to its competitive price, we comprehensively evaluate the fact that it is an additional power source that promotes new development, that the environmental burden is lower, and that it is a power plant funded by the local community.
- At a site where it is decided to procure renewable electricity in Japan, we select an electricity supplier using this system. By utilizing this system, Ricoh has converted 100% of the electricity used at its Head Office (Ota-ku, Tokyo) to renewable electricity from FY2021 (CO2 reduction effect: 2,000 tons/year; Renewable electricity: 4.3 GWh/year).
【Initiatives in office site】
We are proceeding with the construction of business locations that have introduced cutting-edge environmental facilities and technologies to reduce CO2 emissions across all our business activities.
Expansion of ZEB Office Buildings and Application to Business Proposals for Customers
- Since 2021, Ricoh Japan Miyazaki Office and Obihiro Office were certified as “ZEB” and Tsukuba Office was certified as “Nearly ZEB”. In addition, Ueda Office, Odate Office, and Ricoh Environmental Business Development Center were certified as “ZEB Ready“. As of April 2022, the total of 11 sites have been certified as “ZEB Ready” or higher.
- Ricoh Japan intends to have all new office buildings*1 be at least “ZEB Ready”. Each building will be a showcase for customers, introducing visitors to the company's decarbonization practices.
* 1: Owned by the company/Rented a whole building
Definition of ZEB status and installation examples in Ricoh Japan (Operation start date)
【Initiatives throughout supply chain】
Efforts for reducing environmental impact via the supply chain as a whole
Global/Ricoh Group
The Ricoh Group is promoting SCM (Supply Chain Management) in logistics for procurement, manufacturing, and sales, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and costs. The Ricoh Group’s manufacturing bases are now in the Americas, Europe, China, and other Asia Pacific countries, which has caused year-to-year increases in transportation among global production sites. For example, the monthly transportation volume of products and parts from China to Japan is enough to fill 400 40-foot containers. To the Americas and Europe, products and parts of a volume equivalent to 1,000 40-foot containers are shipped from China each month. Given these volumes, efficiency improvement in logistics is an important issue in promoting business on a global scale. The Ricoh Group surveys all processes and promotes efforts on a global scale, including the improvement of cargocarrying efficiency through reviewing packaging materials and mixed packing, modal shifts among warehouses, direct deliveries to customers, and by optimizing transportation routes through the introduction of the milk run system. The Group thus aims to reduce wastage related to packaging materials, transportation, space, trans-shipment, and storage.
CO2 emissions in logistics
■Arterial logistic flows
- Establishment of a direct transportation system from plants to customers
- Modal shift from truck to railway and marine transportation
- Uses of reusable packaging materials
■Venous logistic flows
- Establishment of a direct collection system for used products
- Expansion and improvement of infrastructure including collection centers
Actively support supplier decarbonization activities and address the risk of rising procurement costs
The Ricoh Group is striving to strengthen our environmental conservation efforts in cooperation with suppliers in order to reduce the environmental impact of our entire supply chain. We have established “Green Procurement Standards” and procure raw materials and parts used in our products by following these standards. The “Supplier Code of Conduct” encourages our suppliers to minimize energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with our environmental management system.
In addition, we not only promote CO2 reduction activities for Zero Carbon on our own, but also in collaboration with our suppliers; In March 2022, we held a Zero Carbon meeting for suppliers and requested them to set Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets that meet the SBT2°C level. In order to the suppliers to achieve these targets, we are providing support, including individual consultation based on the practical examples and expertise of the Ricoh Group, on how to identify Scope 1 and 2 and how to switch to electricity with a lower CO2 emission factor.
Products contributing to society’s decarbonization
We are working to provide energy-saving products not only our own decarbonization production process, but also to the decarbonization of society.
Development of decarbonization-contributing products
In order to deliver environmentally responsible products to our customers, we are actively acquiring environment labels both in and outside of Japan. Under the International Energy Star Program, which promotes the energy saving of office equipment, 95% of our printing and imaging products, including those released in FY2021, have acquired Energy Star Certification, demonstrating our commitment to Zero-Carbon. We are also promoting environmentally responsible production by operating the Ricoh Sustainable Products Program, which evaluates products based on our own strict standards for energy and resource savings, contamination prevention, user comfort, and ease of use.
* 1: Assume that 40 MFDs will operate 20 days in an office that outputs 50,000 copies per month
* 2: Value based on the measurement method specified in the International Energy Star Program
QSU (Quick Start-Up)
In order to save energy, it is important to reduce the power consumption of multifunction devices (copiers) in standby mode which is said to be about 90%*1 of a day. Therefore, an “energy-saving mode” was developed that automatically shifts to a state of reduced power consumption after a certain period of time while the product is in standby mode. QSU (Quick Start-Up) is a technology that enables a multifunction printer to be used quickly from the energy-saving mode (sleep mode). The time required for startup depends on the speed at which the once cooled fixing roller is heated to the required temperature. The Ricoh Group has been fully engaged in the development of QSU technology for the past 20 years so that office workers can use the energy-saving mode without feeling stressed.Today, the time required to recover from sleep mode has been significantly reduced, and we have achieved the industry's highest level of energy savings in terms of standard power consumption (TEC value) *2.
* 1: Assume that 40 MFDs will operate 20 days in an office that outputs 50,000 copies per month
* 2: Value based on the measurement method specified in the International Energy Star Program
Comprehensive support to reduce energy usage and waste in printing
Europe/Ricoh Europe PLC
Pursuing business growth while conserving the environment is a key objective of enterprises today. With competition intensifying globally, customers are seeking greater management efficiency to balance improved businesses performance with environmental sustainability.
Ricoh Europe PLC (RE), our European sales headquarters, is responding to these needs by offering a Sustainability Optimization Program (SOP) that visualizes the environmental impact and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) associated with the printing environments of Ricoh customers. RE also monitors the effects of Ricoh services after implementation so that we can provide support for continuous improvements.
The SOP process first analyzes a customer’s printing environment in detail and makes the costs and environmental footprint visible. It then suggests the optimal equipment arrangement and helps set specific goals for reducing the environmental impact.
After implementation, RE supports the customer to promote employee education and awareness on sustainability through collaborative activities that raise the environmental cognizance of everyone at the company. RE also provides training to help the customer make the most of our products’ energy-saving modes, double-sided printing and other functions. And by monitoring variances in goals and actual figures, the SOP program runs and manages the system toward continuous improvements.
In addition, the process offers Carbon Balanced Printing to further contribute to a reduction in the customer’s environmental impact. This takes advantage of carbon credits*1 offered by the Ricoh Group to offset the CO2 that remains from equipment power and paper used in office printing, even after the customer has reduced their environmental impact with SOP. Through this program, customers are able to achieve their environmental goals in costeffective ways.
Customers who have implemented SOP respond with high praise, noting, “It is an outstanding program that has helped us to achieve both optimal business management and sustainability,” and, “The program helps us to fully achieve our environmental goals.” The effectiveness of the program has also been certified by the U.K. business standards company BSI*2.
These trends have led us to propose more environmental impact-reducing SOP in FY 2012 than any of our other TCO programs aimed at achieving efficient printing and reducing costs. The CO2 emission levels of our customers have reduced by 36% compared to those prior to SOP implementation.
The program was also launched in Australia in May 2013 in line with our policy of meeting customer needs on a global scale.
*1The carbon credits used for offsetting are certified emission reduction (CER) credits earned for investing in UNFCCC registered CDM projects.
*2The British Standards Institution
The Sustainability Optimization Program
Energy saving and energy creation businesses
As the trend toward decarbonization accelerates, we offer decarbonization solutions to our customers in Japan in terms of “reducing”, “choosing”, “generating”, and “supplying” energy. We are promoting energy-saving and energy-creation related businesses, such as O&M (operation & maintenance) of customers’ solar power generation facilities, maintenance of EV charging facilities, and the lighting and air conditioning control systems, utilizing the monitoring services we have nurtured in the field of IT/networking equipment.