Ricoh  environment 
Ricoh has again been recognised for its commitment to the environment by being named among the planet’s top 100 sustainable corporations at the recently concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Global 100, compiled by research company, Innovest, compares companies to their industry peers and awards those who are deemed to have the best developed abilities to manage environmental, social and governance risks, and to take advantage of the new business opportunities.

Ricoh has been represented in the Global 100 since the list’s inception in 2005 and was awarded a Gold Medal from the World Economic Council in 2003 as the world’s most sustainable corporation. Ricoh Australia Business Excellence manager, Robi George, credits the company’s ambitious corporate social responsibility programmes for its strong hold on the Global 100. “Being a good corporate citizen means striving to be a valued and respected member of society by contributing to its sustainable growth. The Global 100 list is extremely significant as it acknowledges our ongoing efforts towards this end,” he says.

Placing sustainability at the core of business strategy, Ricoh’s environmental management policies are of highest priority and the company has consistently introduced programmes beyond that required by government legislation. “At Ricoh we believe taking care of the environment is every stakeholder’s responsibility and we lead the way through the practise of extended product responsibility, including recycling research and the education of future generations,” says George.

In 2001, Ricoh pioneered a toner recycling and refurbishment progamme which has now been developed into an industry-leading copier and printer recycling programme guaranteeing a returned machine recycling ratio of up to 95 per cent. Since the programme’s introduction, more than 1200 tonnes of toners, printers and other waste material have been diverted from landfill.