London, UK, 1 June 2011 – [u]Ricoh Europe[/u], a specialist in office solutions, managed document services, IT services and production printing, announced its continued support of the annual United Nations World Environment Day on 05 June 2011.  This year Ricoh is expanding its activities to 30 days, allowing employees more time to get involved and support its sustainability and biodiversity commitments.

Ricoh’s approach to environmental management goes beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements, by combining ecological concerns with business strategy to drive environmental conservation and profitability. With sustainable innovation at the heart of its business, Ricoh has set aggressive targets to be more sustainable, by reducing the environmental impacts of its own business and of its customers.

This year is the sixth time Ricoh has aligned with the United Nations World Environment Day to raise awareness of its commitment to reducing its environmental impacts and to encourage positive change among employees, suppliers, and customers. Activities planned around Europethroughout June focus upon conserving natural resources, reducing CO₂ emissions, supporting biodiversity, and encouraging behavioural change. Examples include:

• Ricoh’s neon billboards inAustria,Belgium,FranceandSpainwill be switched off for the entire month.
• Employees in Belgiumwill take part in a ‘Green driving’ challenge, measuring the impact driving style has on fuel consumption. Driving in a more environmentally responsible way can save 15-20% in fuel cost and emissions.[1]
• Employees at Ricoh Europe’sLondonheadquarters will take part in removing an invasive plant species from the Thames marshland in partnership withThames21, and in the creation of a local nature reserve in partnership with the Woodcroft Wildspace charity.
• Employees in Switzerlandwill take part in their annual ‘Back to life’
  re-forestation activity.
• Employees inSpainwill be provided with reusable shopping bags to raise awareness about the impacts of plastic upon the environment.
• Employees in the UK will work with the Wildlife Trust to clear invasive plants to encourage wild flower growth.
• Employees inNorwaywill collect electric and electronic waste.
• Employees inItalywill take part in a recycling programme where they can donate items they no longer need to other employees.

Tom Wagland, Manager, Environmental Management Group, Ricoh Europe says: ”By dedicating the month of June to raising environmental awareness among our customers, suppliers and employees, we can make a real and positive change to the environment.  Since 2007 Ricoh has grown its business, yet still reduced its CO₂ emissions by 45,000 tonnes inEurope, contributing to our long term global strategy to reduce emissions by 87.5% by 2050 compared to 2000 levels.”

Ricoh takes all possible measures to reduce the environmental impact of activities within its control. Product prototypes are designed with environmental responsibility in mind, and this commitment is continued through parts procurement, manufacturing, logistics, sales and service, recycling and waste management. Ricoh customers are also benefiting from sustainable document workflows through its sustainability consultancy, the Sustainability Optimisation Programme.

For more information visit:

Ricoh’s Total Green Office Solutions
Ricoh’s Sustainability Optimisation Programme
Build your green office
Ricoh’s eco technology
Certified pre-owned equipment

[1] Drive Green, Drive Safely, The industry guide to responsible motoring, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, page 10, www.smmt.co.uk

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For further information, please contact:

Ricoh Europe PLC
Janice Gibson
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7465 1153
E-mail: press@ricoh-europe.com
Home page: www.ricoh-europe.com

Register for the Ricoh media centre at: www.ricoh-europe.com/press

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