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Production (Preventing Global Warming)
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Endorsing the Kyoto Protocol, Ricoh promotes a reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions.
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In July 2001, Ricoh joined e-mission 55, a signature-collecting campaign that was conducted by companies supporting the Kyoto Protocol. Ricoh was the first leading manufacturer in Japan to sign and make a commitment for the environment. Ricoh is committed to reduce CO2 emissions 13% from the 1990 level by 2010. In fiscal 2001, Ricoh achieved a 13.8% reduction in total CO2 emissions from the 1990 level, while Japan itself reduced 12.6%. For the purpose of restricting total CO2 emissions despite increased production, Ricoh makes further, continuous efforts to tackle the prevention of global warming by reducing total CO2 emissions per sales unit as a target in fiscal 2010 62% from the 1990 level. Other efforts to be made include a 10% reduction of greenhouse gases other than CO2 by fiscal 2010 from the 1995 level.
*The Ricoh Group uses greenhouse gases other than CO2 (i.e., methane, carbon monoxide, HFC, PFC, and SF6) at its production sites. By fiscal 2004, more products that use these gases are expected to be manufactured, but total emissions will be limited to within a 1% increase from fiscal year 2000 level.
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 Installation of Energy-Saving Equipment  [Japan]
To update the air-conditioning systems at its manufacturing plants, Ricoh Microelectronics Co., Ltd., conducted segment environmental accounting to compare an ice thermal storage/chilled water system with an absorption-type chilled/hot water generation system and determine which is better for environmental conservation and cost reduction. From its results, Ricoh Microelectronics decided to introduce the ice thermal storage/chilled water system because, although the initial cost of the system was ¥34.45 million more than that of the absorption-type system, it would reduce running cost by 30% and CO2 emissions by 60%.
 Click here for Segment Environmental Accounting.
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| The Americas |
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Reducing Electricity Consumption by Half  [America]
When the cost of electricity rose from 7 cents/kWh to 12 cents/kWh in California, Ricoh Electronics, Inc., (REI) in the United States began to systematically promote energy conservation activities by identifying which locations used the most electricity. It accomplished this by examining the electricity bills of all relevant facilities.
REI identified 78 problems that were associated with electricity consumption. Sixty of them were solved by installing smaller air compressors and relocating air conditioner switches so that the air conditioners can be turned on or off as frequently as needed. As a result, REI successfully reduced its electricity consumption by half, cutting its electricity bills by $26,195 in three months.
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| China and Taiwan |
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| Manually operated production line for printers (RAI) |
Zero-Electric-Power-Consumption Production Line  [China]
Ricoh Asia Industry Ltd. (RAI) in China accepts ideas from employees from time to time on how to reduce energy consumption. Some of the improvements that resulted from this include the introduction of a manually-moving production line, which improves work efficiency and aims at eliminating electricity consumption.
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| Revolving table production system (Ricoh Component (H.K.) Ltd.) |
Cell Production [China]
Smaller production lots are more suitable for cell production, which is assembled by a single person from start to finish.
One idea from an employee led to "a revolving table production system" at Ricoh Component (H.K.) Ltd., in China. Each product is fully assembled with one complete turn of the table. The number of products manufactured is automatically calculated by a counter set under the table. This is also a Zero-Electric-Power-Consumption system.
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| Hybrid production line (Taiwan Ricoh) |
Hybrid Production Line  [Taiwan]
Taiwan Ricoh Co., Ltd., integrated its automated main production line and manual subline into a hybrid production line. This improved the line's production efficiency, ease of operation, and energy consumption and reduced the amount of workspace needed.
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