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Social Contribution (Japan)
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Contributing to making societies better the world over
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To
create a society that is at ease with itself and live
without harming the natural environment, it is essential
for all global citizens, including national governments,
companies, citizen groups, and other individuals, to
offer ideas and cooperate with each other. For this
to happen, private citizens, governments, companies,
NPOs, and other groups need to establish closer relationships
with one another. One of the most important requisites
for business enterprises is demonstrating leadership
in their communities while improving communication through
proper information disclosure, building up relationships
based on mutual trust and good partnerships, and creating
a society that is at ease with itself. The Ricoh Group,
based on the Spirit of Three
Loves (love your neighbor, love your country, and
love your work), endeavors to enthusiastically communicate
with local governments and citizens the world over.
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Participation in the UN Global Compact |
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On April 8, 2002, Ricoh
agreed on and announced its participation in the Global
Compact, a United Nations initiative consisting of nine
principles covering topics in human rights, labor, and
the environment. In 1999, UN Secretary-General Kofi
A. Annan advocated the
Global Compact to world business leaders. At present,
there are approximately 500 business enterprises taking
part in this initiative. Ricoh is the second Japanese
company to announce its participation in the initiative,
which contributes to the Ricoh Group's global efforts. |
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Demonstrating Leadership to Prevent Global Warming |
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| The "Climate is Business award" ceremony and the trophy |
In July 2001, Ricoh was the first leading Japanese company to join "e-mission 55," a petition to encourage countries to adopt the Kyoto Protocol. Ricohd the door for other Japanese companies to support the protocol. The European Business Council and U.S. Business Council recognized this achievement and awarded Ricoh the "Climate is Business" award. Besides Ricoh, Jan Pronk, COP6 president (who concluded the Bonn Agreement at COP6) and Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment of the Netherlands, received the same award. |
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Forest Ecosystem Conservation Project |
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| Conservation of virgin mangrove forests (Brunei) |
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| An eco-tour to plant trees on Huangtu Plateau in China |
Ricoh continued its efforts to
conserve forest ecosystems by initiating eight projects
in fiscal 1999 and fiscal 2000, by starting three additional
projects in fiscal 2000, by forming partnerships with
environmental NPOs, and by taking into careful consideration
local communities where the projects are conducted.
Through these activities, local communities became more
environmentally aware, which greatly promotes social
contribution. Local communities became more aware of
the importance of the natural environment when they
observe how determined Japanese companies are about
conserving it. In Japan, Ricoh stresses the importance
of forest ecosystem conservation through advertisements
in magazines. In April 2002, Ricoh conducted an
eco-tour to plant trees on Huangtu Plateau in China. |
| Activities Funded by the Ricoh Group's "Social Contribution Reserve"* |
| Country |
Project |
NPO |
| NAME |
Purpose |
NAME |
Description |
| Philippines |
Conservation and restoration of forests in environmental hot spots |
Conservation of forests where the Philippine Eaglecan live |
Conservation
International |
Using funds and human resources for the conservation of biodiversity (1,200 members in 32 countries) |
| Malaysia |
Restoration of forests in the Ecoregion 200 area |
Establishment of forests where orangutans can migrate |
WWF |
The world's largest nature protection NPO makes diverse efforts to conserve biodiversity, from ecosystem conservation to the prevention of global warming. |
| China |
Restoration of forests in the Ecoregion 200 area |
Establishment of forests where pandas can live |
WWF |
Same as above |
| Japan |
Restoration of satoyama (community forests) in Tama hills, Tokyo |
Conservation of forests where loaches and salamanderscan live |
Wild Bird
Society of
Japan |
Conducting activities to protect wild birds and to conserve their habitats based on the idea that mankind must share the earth with wild birds |
| Japan |
Conservation of the Afan forest in Kurohime, Nagano |
Establishment of forests where dormice can live |
C.W. Nicol
Afan Forest |
Conducting research
and study of the forest ecosystem as well as environmental
conservation activities on the idea of establishing
a forest where the mankind can live without harming
the natural environment |
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The flag species of the area are listed under "purpose."The above projects strive to conserve the forest ecosystem in the areas as well as the flag species. |
| Activities Funded by the Ricoh Group's Expenses |
| Country |
Project |
NPO |
| NAME |
Description |
| Sri Lanka |
Conservation and restoration of forests in world heritage areas |
Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka |
Research of birds
in Sri Lanka and domestic and international environmental
conservation activities through the protection of wild
birds |
| Brunei |
Conservation of virgin mangrove forests |
Ramsar Center Japan |
Conducting activities to promote the ratification of the Ramsar Convention (on Wetlands) in Asia and theappropriate utilization of wetlands |
| Madagascar |
Survey of the canopy in forests |
Pro Natura |
International NPO conducting forest conservation activities in Asia and Africa |
| Bangladesh |
Restoration of satoyama (community forests) |
Bangladesh Poush |
Providing environmental education, especially to children, and promoting afforestation activities in Bangladesh |
| Malaysia |
Restoration of riverhead forests |
OISCA |
Promoting the independence of local communicates and environmental conservation through rural development and greenery activities in the Asia-Pacific region |
| Ghana |
Restoration of
the corridors of the cacao trees growing in the shades |
Conservation International |
Using funds and
human resources for the conservation of biodiversity
(1,200 members in 32 countries) |
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| Japan |
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Sound Education of the Youth  [Japan]
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| Entrance ceremony at the Ichimura Kanto School of Nature |
The Ichimura School of Nature, an NPO, is where children from the 4th grade (10 years old) of elementary school to the 2nd grade (14 years old) of junior high school spend every two weekends a month plus summer vacation together to grow crops. The school's basic aim is to help children learn how to earn a living from mother earth through experience and community living. The Company started a project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kiyoshi Ichimura, the founder of the Ricoh San-ai Group, andd the Ichimura Kanto School of Nature on March 30, 2002. In the 2003 spring, the Company plans toa school in Saga Prefecture, where Ichimura was born.
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FreeWill Social Contribution Club [Japan]
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For the purpose of promoting voluntary social contribution activities by employees, Ricoh established a social contribution club in January 1999 called FreeWill. Employees voluntarily donate a fraction of their salaries for social contribution activities. Ricoh supports those activities under a gift-matching program, in which the Company matches the amount of contributions made by employees. The club has supported more than 60 organizations, including the Japan Marrow Donor Program (JMDP) and the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan. As of the end of February 2002, there are more than 2,000 members.
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