Actively Participate in Environmental Protection Contributing to the Development of a Sustainable Society

Transcription

1 Green office guide

2 Foreword Actively Participate in Environmental Protection Contributing to the Development of a Sustainable Society Our Earth, with its comprisal power, has made possible the origination of various living things and supports a wide range of human activities. Nevertheless, what human beings have been doing recently have exceeded this comprisal power and affects the coexistence of living things on the Earth. Even for us and our descendents, it becomes more difficult to survive. To fulfill its mission as a global citizen, Ricoh has spent vast effort in protecting the environment. To realize environmental-friendly entrepreneurship, Ricoh has actively promoted environmental conservation in its operations. Starting from Developing environmental-friendly technology, Ricoh has produced products that are safe to the environment. With the support from clients, we are able to reduce environmental impact in the long run. Protecting the environment is not something that can be done at personal or individual company s level. Thus, Ricoh extends our environmental activities to families of our staff, business partners and even its clients. Through this Green Office Guide booklet, Ricoh hopes we can join our efforts in contributing to environmental protection. Green Purchasing Green Transportation Green Office Operations Green Recycling Green Promotion

3 Green Transportation Use public transport instead of your own car to reduce pollution by 18 times, WRI data reveals in the past 30 years, transport and logistics activities related to personnel and goods movement is one of the most important factors that lead to an increase in CO 2 emission. Small Steps Makes Big Difference Tip 1 Use of Cars Think before you drive Is there any alternative available? e.g. on foot, take public transport Are you sure you are taking the best driving route? Could you avoid empty running vehicles through the transportation process? When you drive Drive at suitable tyre pressure Please drive at an average speed of 50km/h Turn off your engine when idling for long periods Switch on the air-conditioner only when necessary Driving at suitable tyre pressure to reduce CO 2 emission by 1 litre upon 105 kilometers Driving at a speed above 80km/h leads to a drastic increase in the release of CO 2. Meanwhile, driving at 80km/h saves 25% gasoline as compared to 110km/h. Green Transportation 1

4 Tip 2 Utilize Video and Audio Conferencing Investment in video conferencing can reduce expenses in business trips as well as environmental pollution. Reduces a long-distance flight can minimize 1 tonne of CO 2 emission. Ricoh in Action Using the Reverse Logistics Method To boost logistical efficiency and reduce environmental impact, Ricoh is working to reduce CO 2 emissions from transportation by creating a resource-recirculating logistics system and promoting modal shifts. In terms of the recycling method of used products, Ricoh (China) adopts the Reverse Logistics Method, namely, directly recycle the used products made by Ricoh with the vehicles for the distribution of products, not only would it save petroleum resources but also reduce to a great extent the discharge of carbon oxide. Reverse Logistics Method Transporting new products Ricoh Point of Sales (POS) Delivery of new products Non-empty delivery vehicles Reprocessing Plant Ricoh Warehouse Client Non-empty delivery vehicles Ricoh Point of Sales (POS) Collection of used products Transporting used products 2 Green Transportation

5 Green Purchasing As a part of the entire supply chain, not only can a corporate contribute to the environment through its own actions, but also by purchasing green products, it increases the environmental awareness of its suppliers and clients. Meanwhile, purchasing green products leads to the improvement of office environment and maintains the health of staff, both physically and mentally. Small Steps Make Big Difference Tip Purchase Eco-friendly Products Purchase products with Energy Label Objectives of the Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme governed by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of HKSAR: Help consumers select energy efficient products Promote public awareness on energy saving and environmental protection Encourage manufacturers to introduce products with high energy efficiency Achieve actual energy saving Most of the Ricoh multi-function printers (MFP), laser printers and fax machines are already registered under the Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme. Using appliances of higher energy efficiency performance helps to save substantial energy. For Ricoh products that has been certified with the Energy Label, please visit: Green Purchasing 3

6 Ricoh in Action QSU - Fast and Energy-saving Technology Even if the machine is able to reduce energy consumption, efforts would be in vain if it is of low usability. Ricoh has invested its efforts into developing QSU (Quick Start Up) technology in a way that satisfies both user-friendliness and energy conservation. Recovery time from energy-saving mode to work mode in copiers Under 10 secs % According to Ricoh market research in Japan, most consumers prefer copiers that recover from energy-saving mode in 10 seconds. Through the QSU technology developed by Ricoh, users are able to shorten the recovery time from energy-saving mode significantly to 10 seconds. This is a pioneer case in the world for high-speed digital multifunctional printers. The technology also enables the energy-conservation target of electricity consumption under 10W in energy-saving mode. Ricoh had won the International Energy Agency's (IEA's) Demand-side Management (DSM) Award of Excellence in the "Copier of the Future" Division based on these two features. High-speed MFP with Ricoh HYBRID QSU technology Digital color MFP with Ricoh IH QSU technology % 11secs-30secs % 31secs-1min % No response Saving 75%-95% of electrical energy, taking less than 10 seconds for pre-heating Through shortening the recovery time from energy-saving mode Reduction in power consumption Time (secs) Watt (W) Reduced by 67% Reduced by 95% Previous models QSU models Previous models QSU models Compared to other Ricoh machines Global reduction in CO 2 emission through Ricoh products with QSU technology ( 000 tonnes CO 2 ) Without QSU With QSU Reduction in CO 2 emission through QSU 2005(Year) Low Carbon Leaders Awards Trophy In 2005, Ricoh was recognized in Low Carbon Leaders Awards supported by The Climate Group, a non-governmental organization with its contribution to the prevention of global warming through the development of a nifty copier equipped with HYBRID QSU user-friendly energy-saving technology. * Please refer to Ricoh Group Sustainability Report for details. 4 Green Purchasing

7 A Technological Breakthrough Practical Use of Plant-based Plastic in copiers When petroleum-based plastic is incinerated, it is as if the carbon contained in the ground is released into the atmosphere, increasing the total amount of CO 2 in the air. On the other hand, although CO 2 is released when plant-based plastic is incinerated, the gas was originally absorbed by plants through photosynthesis during growth. Therefore, the total amount of CO 2 in the air does not theoretically increase, which means that plant-based plastic has less environmental impact and contributes to preventing the acceleration of global warming. The Ricoh Group, in collaboration with its partners, has been working to solve these problems since 2002 to find ways to successfully develope a new plastic material that is made from corn and has a high percentage of plant-based material (more than 50%). Since 2005, Ricoh has used this new plastic for part of digital multifunction printers. Comparison of CO 2 emissions from petroleum-based plastic and plant-based plastic Petroleum-based plastic CO 2 emissions Extracted from oil well Raw material Plastic Resin Incineration Plant-based plastic CO 2 absorption The amount of CO 2 absorbed offsets CO 2 emitted CO 2 emissions Plastic Raw material Resin Incineration Ricoh Environmental Toner Cartridge Ricoh's new color PxP toner is designed to fuse at a temperature 20 C lower than its predecessor, thus consumes less energy when in use. Meanwhile, the toner melts fast to attach firmly to paper surface, achieving higher picture quality with fine and uniform particles. Ricoh s eco-friendly PET toner containers save over 40% raw materials and are reusable. This greatly reduces the release of CO 2. By recycling waste toner on the Photo-conductor drum, Ricoh recycles and reuses resources effectively. Green Purchasing 5

8 Green Office Operations Always keep an eye on small things that you are capable of in daily work to contribute to environmental protection. This does not only improve your working environment, but also influences people around you to join your eco-actions. Small Steps Make Big Difference Tip 1 Saving Paper Use Duplex Copying Normal copying CHANGE Ricoh Aficio Eco-copiers *Compared to previous Ricoh models Small Change Substitute a normal copier with a duplex Ricoh Aficio copier of the same speed. Example: With 15,000 print volume per month, you can save 50% of paper by duplex copying in 5 years A4 paper: $ Profit Big Reward Duplex printing saves paper cost by: approx. $10,000 Amount of CO 2 reduced at paper manufacturing: approx. 2,670 kg Equivalent to saving 19 trees Electricity saved: $200 A further reduction of CO 2 emission by 150 kg Equivalent to 1.7 trees Number of Trees Saved trees trees 6 Green Purchasing

9 Other Paper-saving Methods Promoting paperless office Using 2 in 1, 4 in 1, multiple sheets in one copying and printing mode Use single-sided copying paper as scrap note Single sided 4 pages combined Duplex 4 pages combined Tip 2 Saving Electrical Eenergy Single sided 16 pages combined Duplex 16 pages combined Switch off the monitor when you keep the computer idle for a long time If 20 people apply this practice for an hour, CO 2 emission could be reduced by 1 litre Set office temperature to 25 C Increase air-conditioning temperature by 1 C for a 500 m 2 office in the winter would reduce CO 2 emission by 3.7 tons. Use energy-saving mode on copiers and switch devices off when leaving office Using energy-saving light bulb Use energy-saving light bulb as an alternative of 100W lamp for 4 days and CO 2 emission could be reduced by 1 litre. Switch off lights before you leave for lunch, home and after using meeting rooms Reduce excess use of machines and share one copier within the same department to greatly reduce electricity consumption Ricoh in Action Create paperless office with Ricoh digital multifunctional printers Users can scan documents directly through digital multifunctional printers and send them to or document folders Ricoh products are equipped with practical digital functions By using Ricoh digital multifunctional printers, send and receive faxes directly through s Copied and scanned documents are saved in the document server of digital multifunctional printers, and could be sent to s or computers when needed. Scan-to- function effectively reduces unnecessary print-outs Green Purchasing 7

10 Ricoh s Paperless Office - LIVE Office Customer research shows that only 20% of the files should be kept as hard copies. Increasing number of companies hope to create eco-offices which reduce the use of paper. Ricoh always validates its solution before proposing them to its customers. Based on this, Ricoh has set up paperless office and suggests to its customers various technological solutions via LIVE Office. Ricoh Hong Kong Limited launched its innovative LIVE Office in Kowloon Bay to better connect with customers to let them to see how Ricoh can help them solve problems and achieve optimization in a real life office environment through the deployment of latest office technologies in order to create a paperless office. In Ricoh s LIVE Office, you can experience the following advanced document solutions apart from getting your hands onto the latest multi-functional copier and printer models: Document Image and Management Solution Secured Printing Solution High-speed and Variable Data Printing Solution Digital Document Management and Paperless Fax Solution Paperless Document Distribution Solution Call Ricoh Customer Service Hotline at for making appointment to experience the brand new concept in Ricoh LIVE Office. Achieve Faster and Better Duplex Copying Double-sided original is scanned through a single path to avoid flipping and retains the original in good form. This also assures efficiency and reliability. Scanner design CIS scanner for the original s reverse side CIS scanner for the original s upper side Sychronized automatic duplex reverse feeder device is installed on Ricoh high-speed Aficio digital copier. It scans the original from two directions, so that both sides of the original is scanned at once, enabling double-side scanning of original at the same speed as single scanning. 8 Green Purchasing

11 Green Recycling Recycling a stack of 90cm H old newspaper saves a tree. Energy saved through recycling one glass bottle is sufficient to run a computer for 25 minutes. Energy saved through recycling a plastic bottle lights a 60W light bulb for 3 hours. Small Step Makes Big Difference Tip 1 Collect waste by category Recycle used copy paper, newspaper, magazines, stationary, battery, CDs etc. The amount of waste paper recycled by a 90-staff company could help to save a tree plantation as large as a football ground in a year s time. Waste sorting centre in Ricoh factory Tip 2 Avoid the use of single-use disposable items Stop using disposable items and purchase reusable once. This does not only reduce environment burden, but also promotes the market development for recyclable products. If an office of 11 staffs stops using plastics cups for a year, CO 2 emission would be reduced by 1 litre. Tip 3 Make good use of everything to avoid wastage Choose suppliers that recycle used machines instead of disposing used machines yourself. Use refillable office supplies instead of single-use items. Green Recycling 9

12 Ricoh in Action Unique Recycle Treatment Mechanism Ricoh implements the recycle of used products and containers to actively collect used products and, with the help of Ricoh-authorized recycling providers, process them in the right way to achieve proper utilization of resources and environmental protection. Collaboration with Customers Customers can return used products when Ricoh delivers new products to them. Using the Comet Circle to Help Build a Society that Recirculates Reosurces The Ricoh Group promotes sustainable management based on the Compet Circle concept on its multifunctional printers, digital production printing systems, printers and fax machines and their used containers (such as cartridges). Materials that could be reused are first sorted out for reuse; parts that cannot be used again will be consumed as heat energy (fuel); residue after heating would be used for lining roads or as construction materials. Unused residue will be disposed in government-approved disposal area. The ratio of reusage is as high as 95%. Ricoh Hong Kong collects used Ricoh toner cartridges and bottles from customers to reduce waste materials and encourage recycling. Customers only have to follow these steps to support environmental protection work: Remove the used toner bottle copier and place in a plastic bag and seal. Remove the used cartridges from the machine and place it in a plastic bag and seal. Put the bag in the cartridge box together with other packaging materials and seal with tape. Call Ricoh Customer Service Hotline at for FREE collection service. Our delivery team will collect your used cartridge or bottle when we deliver your new order. Please have several cartridges or bottles ready for one time collection. 10 Green Recycling

13 Green Promotion Each staff has the responsibility to protect the environment. Corporate effort is also vital to encourage such activities, so that all will involve in environmental conservation. Small Steps Make Big Difference Tip Enhance Eco-sense of Staff Gather staff to discuss the possible daily eco-effort. Designate staff to be responsible for environmental protection, such as switching off lights when going for lunch and switching off public office devices when leaving the office. Promote environmental protection work through posters or exhibition boards. Actively organize staff to attend community and organizational eco-activities. Establish internal environmental friendly action team for promotion of eco-activities. Promote eco-activities through company website or s. Ricoh in Action Ricoh Global Eco Action Day The Ricoh Group is setting a Ricoh Global Eco Action Day every year when people should consider and take action for global energy saving. On the event day, Ricoh Group companies around the world will participate, turning off the lights at major facilities and on billboards. All staff is also being called on to take actions such as turning off unneeded lights and think. Ricoh encourages staff to leave on time and discuss environmental issues with their families. Green Promotion 11

14 Social Response to Ricoh Eco-actions Time Social response to Ricoh Ricoh UK Products' copier drum recycling technology receives the English Queen's Award. Ricoh UK Products' Consumption Power Reduction Activities receives the Business Energy Award's Grand Prize. Copier drum recycling technology of Ricoh UK Products receives the European Better Environment Awards for Industry. Ricoh won the International Energy Agency s (IEA s) Demand-side Management (DSM) Award of Excellence in the Copier of the Future Division for energy-conservation technology. Evaluated as number one in the Fourth Corporate Environmental Management Level Survey by the Nippon Keizai Shimbun newspaper for 3 consecutive years Ricoh was voted as the 7 th position in the section for companies that best manage and effect environmental resources in the Financial Times survey of The World s Most Respected Companies". Ricoh was ranked No.1 in the Computers, Peripherals and Office Electronics category for corporate responsibility rating by Oekom Research AG of Germany Ricoh won the 2003 World Environment Center (WEC) Gold Medal as the first firm Ranked first in the 8th Corporate Environmental Management Level Survey organized by Nikkei Inc. (for the 4th time) Chosen as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World (Global 100) at Davos forum Given the world's highest rating for corporate social responsibility by Oekom Research AG of Germany in its Environmental Ranking of the IT Industry A high-speed multifunctional copier equipped with HYBRID QSU energy-saving fixation technology wins fourth prize in the Innovators Category of the Low Carbon Leaders Awards. Ricoh Group Sustainability Report 2005 receives the Environmental Report Excellent Award in the Environmental Report Category and the Environmental Reporting Meister Award at the 9th Environmental Communication Awards. The imagio MP C1500 series (Aficio MP C1500 was named outside Japan) received the Energy Conservation Center Chairman's Prize in the 17 th Energy-saving Awards that were held by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan for developing low-cost business-oriented colour copiers, for reducing the maximum electrical power consumption and for achieving fast recovery time from sleep mode.. Chosen as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World for the fourth consecutive year Ranked the highest, AAA, by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, Inc. of the U.S. in its social and environmental rating

15 Environmental Activities Ricoh Hong Kong Limited Corporate Afforestation Scheme We regard environmental conservation as an integral element of our business activities and we have chosen a tree-planting program as further demonstration of our commitment. Trees are valuable for conservation of the natural environment, as they provide shelter for wildlife and birds, leisure for city dwellers and most importantly, filter the polluted air of our crowded city. In year 2001, Ricoh Hong Kong Limited joined hands with Friends of the Earth in the Corporate Afforestation Scheme to adopt corporate woodland in support of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conversation Department's initiatives in greening our Country Parks. From 2001 to 2003, over 240 participants from Ricoh joined the tree planting project in High Island Reservoir of Sai Kung East Country Park. At the end of 2007, Ricoh, our business partners and Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, joined hands again to contribute to environmental conservation by continuing their support of the Tai Lam Tree Planting Project, launched in mid-year The group spent the day weeding around the area where a total of 10,000 tree seedlings will eventually be planted in about two hectares of woodland at the Ma On Kong, Tai Lam Country Park over a period of three years. Ricoh Organized Green Video Competition with Friends of the Earth Ricoh Hong Kong Limited launched the Green Video Competition in October 2005 together with Friends of the Earth (HK) with the theme of "waste reduction". Targeting to secondary schools, universities and youth organizations, the event had received generous support by the media, Baptist University Multimedia Department, Radio and Television HK and local film directors to help on organizing a workshop on filming techniques and the final judging. Response to the competition was overwhelmed with more than 70 entries. The Panel of Judges consisted of six members: Ms. Sylvia Chang and Mr. Alfred Cheung, famous directors; Dr. Lo Wai Luk, instructor at the Hong Kong Baptist University s Department of Cinema & Television; Mr. Chan Wai Tong, Producer, Radio Television Hong Kong; Mrs Mei Ng and Mr. Aaron Yim has chosen the Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up and Merit awards winners. All entries had been given high commendations with regard to their effectiveness in spreading the message of Use with Care, Dispose in Aware and they were enlightened by the short videos produced by the contestants. The Sunday crowds were attracted to the venue and over 100 pedestrians shared the event with Ricoh. In the results presentation ceremony held at the Olympic Shopping Mall on 15th January, Mr. Aaron Yim, Managing Director of Ricoh Hong Kong Limited, presented a cheque for HK$65,000 to support FoE's environmental protection projects. * The green office solutions in this booklet are solely for reference. Ricoh suggests companies or personnel to consult a third-party company for overall suggestions to implement green office in depth. Ricoh has no responsibility upon any loss incurred by application of suggestions in this booklet. * Part of the Ricoh eco-actions mentioned in this booklet might have yet been applied worldwide. Please refer to Ricoh Group Sustainability Report for details. * Part of the eco-functions mentioned in this booklet might have yet been applied on all products of Ricoh. For details, please refer to product catalogues or ask the Ricoh sales people.

16 Ricoh Hong Kong Limited 21/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Tel : Fax : Ricoh Hong Kong Limited (Macau Branch) Alameda Dr. Carlos d'assumpcao, 249, Edf. China Civil Plaza, 17 Andar (K, L), Macau Tel : (853) Fax : (853) Ricoh believes in conserving the earth s precious natural resources. This guide is printed on environmental friendly paper containing pre-consumer waste, fiber from sustainable forestry and chlorine free.