Social Contribution Activities
In addition to Resolution of social issues through business activities(Creating Shared Value:CSV), we are also committed to carrying out socially beneficial activities in a steady, responsible manner, both within and outside of our business functions. These activities include initiatives the Group and its employees lead as well as support given to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations.
Priority areas and main Social Contribution Activities
What is "Inclusion in the Workplace"?
SDGs aim to create a society where "no one is left behind" and we support the work of a diverse range of people, such as persons with disabilities, homeless, immigrants, refugees, and single mothers, in what we call “Inclusion in the Workplace."
Why is 'Inclusion in the Workplace' a priority area?
Enabling all people to work aligns with Ricoh's vision to be a company that supports 'Fulfilment through Work'. This means that we strive to develop products and solutions for our customers that enable their employees to focus on the more creative work that only humans can do.
Related programs
Digital Support Program for Young PeopleThis program supports unemployed young people due to the information gap in a rapidly advancing digital society. Ricoh Group employees introduce workplaces that are being transformed by digital innovation, and offer skills training using digital technology that enables participants to simulate the entire process of image production projects, from order receipt to delivery, to support them secure a job.
In cooperation with a Vietnamese NPO, we support Vietnamese young people who are unable to receive adequate education due to their family environment and other reasons and have difficulty in working.
Three months of tuition includes technical training for the study of graphic design, as well as basic soft skills training to enhance communication and problem solving skills.
During the training, Ricoh Vietnam employees provide professional training to teach interview skills to young people and encourage them to participate in the work.
Support activities for parents and children through Kids' Album SODACHIE.(Japanese)
Through donating a portion of the profits from the online photo sales service "Kids' Album SODACHIE" to the NPO Florence, we support parents of children who require care to be able to return to work. Through this activity, and in cooperation with Florence, we aim to realize a society in which a whole community helps to raise children, as opposed to the present society in which they are raised only by their parents.
What is “Community and Social Development”?
“Community and Social” are places where people live their lives, and they are also groups of people and organizations. By providing and creating value unique to the Ricoh Group to allow everyone to lead healthy and rewarding lives, we want to contribute to “Community and Social Development”.
In the area of social contribution, we are engaged in activities in the three areas of education, health care, and community building, which are the foundations of our daily lives.
Why is “Community and Social Development” a priority area?
We have established the priority area of “Community and Social Development” in order to contribute to creating a sustainable society by community-based business activities.
We contribute to development of community and society through education, healthcare and community building.
Related programs
Ricoh Science Caravan(Japanese)
Ricoh Science Caravan, a science experiment workshop, is held at science museums and national and public universities all over Japan to encourage children to enjoy science. By utilizing Ricoh's technologies and human resources, we develop and operate programs that participants can understand through experience and experimentation, such as a 360-degree camera system and ink ejection technology, and a copying system that utilizes the three primary colors of light and color.
Since FY2020, we have been developing and implementing programs that contribute to the integrated study(inquiry-based learning) promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Through cooperation with boards of education and schools, the program aims to develop a new style of education.
RICOH held a stakeholder dialogue (Japanese)
The Ichimura Nature School Kanto(Japanese)
The Ichimura Nature School Kanto gives children a chance to “learn how to live from Mother Nature” in an agricultural community. In this way, they learn how to “develop yourself by thinking together, using each other’s ideas, and doing field work together with the blessing of nature.” We also support activities of Daichi no Kai (the Earth Club), a group voluntarily established by alumni of the program, particularly in organizing major activities, such as general meetings, summer camps, and alumni farms. We will continue to support the development of students, including graduates of the school, as they take their place in society.
What is "Response to Climate Crisis and Biodiversity "?
Around the world, natural disasters that are caused by global warming are occurring one after another. To address the urgent need to respond to the climate crisis, the Ricoh Group is working together with stakeholders to engage in forest conservation and planting as activities that lead to biodiversity conservation. We also deliver forest-friendly paper products to our customers.
Why is "Response to Climate Crisis and Biodiversity" a priority area?
We believe that to reduce the environmental impact it is necessary to realize a Zero-carbon Society with a Circular Economy and strengthen activities that enhance the global biodiversity. Ricoh's main business, the Multi Function Printer business, is a product that uses paper, so we would like to provide our customers with forest friendly products. Ricoh groups are promoting forest conservation activities in collaboration with the local community, and we are also procuring sustainable raw materials for use in the manufacture of our products.
Related programs
- Protecting local indigenous biodiversity
- - One Million Trees Project
- Forest conservation projects
- Forest development through cooperative work with stakeholders
- Forest development activities by our employees
- Forest development through cooperative work with customers
Employee Participation Activities
For a company to effectively utilize its resources to address social challenges, enhanced social awareness of its employees is essential. With this view, we offer a spectrum of opportunities to help individual employees raise their awareness and sensitivity toward social issues, and encourage them to take action in some form by participating in volunteer activities or making efforts within their business engagements.
FreeWill, Ricoh’s Social Contribution Club
FreeWill is an employee-led endeavor launched in 1999 that seeks to turn individual donations into a sizable fund for social contribution activities underpinned by greater participation and sustained involvement in the movement. Currently, employees from a total of 7 group companies including Ricoh are voluntarily participating in activities as FreeWill members.
Employees who belong to FreeWill donate a portion of their salary and bonus, with the collected funds going to nonprofit and other organizations that promote solutions to social problems and employees’ social contribution activities.
The donations made by employees are matched by contributions from the 7 member companies (Ricoh, Ricoh Japan, Ricoh IT Solutions, Ricoh Creative Service, Ricoh Industry, Ricoh Industrial Solutions, and ETRIA).
FreeWill also organizes member activities like “FreeWill Picture Book Project”* , which is one of the major activities. Members send Japanese picture books to children in Asia after attaching stickers of the text translated into local languages. These activities provide many members with opportunities to become involved in social contribution.* “FreeWill Picture Book Project 2023” was implemented by participating in the “Campaign to Deliver Picture Books” held by the Shanti Volunteer Association.
Ricoh Global SDGs Action
The Ricoh Group is promoting various initiatives to achieve the SDGs based on our corporate philosophy, business strategy and environmental management initiatives.
In June 2019, we renamed "Ricoh Global Eco Action", an environmental event held in June of each year, “Ricoh Global SDGs Action". This event not only addresses global warming and other eco-actions for the realization of a carbon-free society, but also involves group employees working together to think and act on a wide range of social issues. Through this activity, we aim to broaden the scope of our activities to achieve the SDGs and to expand them into a large-scale action cycle.
Contribution to the community and sports promotion through Rugby
The Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo rugby team actively promotes the spread of the Kids' Rugby, local sports and the nurturing of youth through rugby for residents. It also contributes to the local community so that it can be a club that is loved by the local community.
Past Projects
- Skill Training for Local Artists in India
- Education Support in India(Japanese)
- BOP Project(Japanese)
- Build a business creation plaftorm to solve social issues in rural India.
- Support Activities for People and Areas Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake