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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.
Focus Areas(Materiality) 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" an area of focus?
- 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 People
This 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.
- • Skill Training for Local Artists in India
This is a social contribution program for female artists who have difficulty earning a living in rural India. Ricoh supports the improvement of digital skills with its unique 3-D representation method (2.5D) so that the artists will be able to create new expressive works of art.
The program provides technical training and is designed to help local artists acquire skills to increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods. Through this program, we will contribute to eliminating disparities by using digital technology to create a society in which “no one will be left behind” the SDGs.- • 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 "QOL enhancement"?
- Lifestyle refers to everything related to people's lifestyles, including the environment, healthcare, education, recreation, and culture. We hope to contribute to improving the quality of life by providing and creating value unique to the Ricoh Group. In the area of social contribution, we are working to improve the quality of life, particularly in the three areas of education, health care, and local communities, which form the foundation of our daily lives.
- Why is "QOL enhancement" an area of focus?
- In line with our corporate philosophy of "creating new value that is useful to society and fulfilling our responsibility to enhance the quality of life and create a sustainable society," we have established the materiality concept of "QOL enhancement" to contribute to solving issues through our business activities.
- Related programs
- • Ricoh Science Caravan(Japanese)
Ricoh Science Caravan was launched to provide opportunities for children in Japan to develop a love for science. The caravan travels to educational facilities, mainly science halls and schools throughout Japan, engaging children in science experiments. The Caravan offers experience-based interactive programs developed and operated with Ricoh’s human and technological resources. We select appropriate topics, such as the basic principles of copiers using static electricity and the structure of digital cameras.
Since FY2020, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has been working on the development of an active learning-type program (including an inquiry-based learning program), which is a pillar of educational reform. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, we are pursuing a new style of education, and we are turning it into a future business for Ricoh.
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 "?
- In recent years, there has been a series of disasters around the world that are thought to be caused by global warming. The term "climate crisis" has come to be used instead of climate change, and there is a need to strengthen global responses. Ricoh is working to address the climate crisis and conserve biodiversity through forest conservation and afforestation activities that contribute to the prevention of global warming and the conservation of biodiversity.
- Why is "Response to Climate Crisis and Biodiversity" an area of focus?
- Since our core business-copier business, consumes a large amount of paper, it is important for business development to work on paper reduction and reduce the environmental impact to improve the earth's regeneration capacity.
- Related programs
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
Tree planting in Rikuzentakata City
Children receiving donated picture books in IndiaFreeWill 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 of a total of 9 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 club invites suggestions from members, based on which the delegate members discuss which organizations and activities to support.
The donations made by employees are matched by contributions from the 9 member companies (Ricoh, Ricoh Japan, Ricoh Logistics System, Ricoh IT Solutions, Ricoh Leasing, Ricoh Creative Service, Ricoh Industry, Ricoh Technologies, and Ricoh Industrial Solutions).
FreeWill also organizes member activities. Among major programs are: a cherry tree planting activity along the tsunami water line in Rikuzentakata City in Iwate Prefecture, which was devastated by the catastrophic tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake; and the Picture Book Project, in which members send Japanese picture books to children in India and Bangladesh after attaching stickers of the text translated into local languages. These activities provide many members with opportunities to become involved in social contribution.
Ricoh Global SDGs Action
Employees of Ricoh Europe installing a bird box.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 rugby team promoting rugby.The Ricoh Black Rams 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.
- For more details (Japanese)
Past Projects
- Education Support in India
- BOP Project
- Build a business creation plaftorm to solve social issues in rural India.
- Support Activities for People and Areas Affected by the Great East Japna Earthquake