RICOH wins the 2003 WEC GOLD MEDAL for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development
From the left
r. Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),Mr. Masamitsu Sakurai Ricoh Group received the 2003 WEC Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development on May 15, 2003 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.. This award is presented annually to recognize and honor a corporation that demonstrates preeminent leadership in sustainability and contributes to worldwide environmental quality.
Mr. Masamitsu Sakurai, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ricoh Company, Ltd. accepted the award on behalf of Ricoh Group's more than 74,000 employees in Japan, the Americas, Europe, China and Taiwan, and the Asia-Pacific region and in recognition of the company's global leadership in sustainable development. Dr. Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, presented the award at the WEC Gold Medal Presentation Ceremony and Dinner.
Over 460 dignitaries from government and the diplomatic corps, industry, international agencies and NGO's, academia and the media attended the annual event. Among the high level officials who turned out in support of the event were Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO); James L. Connaughton, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality; H.E. Koichi Haraguchi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations; Biol. Raul Enrique Arriaga Becerra, Undersecretary for Environmental Protection, SEMARNAT, Mexico; H.E. Juan Jose Bremer, Ambassador to the United States, Embassy of Mexico; H.E. Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno, Ambassador to the United States, Embassy of Colombia; H.E. Hugo Guiliani Cury, Ambassador to the United States, Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
"Ricoh is a prime example of how industrial activity may be effectively harnessed on a global scale to support high quality livelihoods for healthier communities and robust natural systems," according to John Mizroch, President and CEO of the New York-based World Environment Center, "We at the WEC are inspired by Ricoh's success, which is marked by an uncompromising vision, serious corporate-wide commitment, and technology innovation."
Ricoh is being honored for its sincere, comprehensive and integrated commitment to the environment and sustainable development. Ricoh, a worldwide supplier, has led the office automation industry in creating environmentally friendly products and processes and in promoting partnerships among government, industry, environmental groups, and business partners and their customers.
From the left:
Mr. John F. Mizroch
President & CEO World Environment Center
Dr. Klaus Toepfer
Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Mr. Masamitsu Sakurai
Mr. Lorenzo H. Zambrano
Chairman of the Board & CEO, CEMEX, S. A.
Mr. James C. Lime
Chairman of WEC and Vice President, Corporate Environment, Health & Safety, Pfizer, Inc.
"Clearly, sustainability is not an option any more - any business that intends to last must act responsibly in this area," commented Mr. Sakurai, Recipient of the 2003 award, "For us the WEC Gold Medal marks not the end of a hard journey but the beginning of greater accomplishments."
Guided by a philosophy the organization calls "Our earth, Our tomorrow," Ricoh believes that we all share the planet and are obligated to protect and preserve it. The Jury based its award on a complete and comprehensive group of achievements that demonstrates superior performance in the areas of policy, implementation, and leadership constituting a compelling program of sustainable development. This outstanding performance translates into world-class energy efficiency technology, reduction of global climate-warming emissions, Zero-Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) in Production, green suppliers pipeline, and a cutting edge environmental management system globally applied. Collectively, these accomplishments are a Signature Contribution that serves as a model for corporations to achieve success through sustainability. The Jury believes this model will provide an excellent standard for the office landscape of the future and as an example for other similar enterprises.
"Ricoh has set ambitious voluntary goals to be pro-active in improving their environmental and social performance," Dr. Topfer remarked, "Ricoh's participation in the UN Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative will serve as a source of inspiration to others to advance corporate environmental and social responsibility."
Achievements
1. Policy
Ricoh believes environmental conservation is an important part of its broader social responsibilities. The Ricoh General Principles on the Environment are a reflection of our corporate values-values that strive to place as much weight on environmental conservation as on making a profit.
Ricoh's Code of Conduct clearly defines our commitment to cooperation with local communities, making social contributions, and ensuring health and safety at work.
Based on the Comet Circle concept, Ricoh has established a system to work with our suppliers and recyclers in reducing the environmental impact of our activities throughout the life cycle of our products.
2.Implementation
Environmental conservation is now one of the criteria used to evaluate performance at company divisions and organizations to encourage employees to engage in environmental conservation activities.
Ricoh has developed its "quick start-up" (QSU) technology, a cutting-edge energy-saving feature, for its products.
Efforts in "green procurement" are underway in close cooperation with suppliers. These efforts seek to minimize the use of chemicals that may have an environmental impact, and to use recycled materials wherever possible.
Ricoh is also promoting efforts to collect used copiers and to market them where possible.
Our environmental accounting methods and the effectiveness of our environmental conservation activities have been improved through implementation of an environmental impact information system.
3. Leadership
Ricoh has begun consideration of "e-mission 55," a petition put together by companies in favor of adopting the Kyoto Protocol. This demonstrates Ricoh's firm resolve to reduce global warming.
Ricoh seeks to build close ties with local communities, governments, and environmental authorities. We have made proposals to certification organizations for Type III Environmental Impact Disclosure to establish certification frameworks as a part of these efforts.
Ricoh is working hard to support the Energy Star program promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
Ricoh has a world-class reputation for its environmental efforts, including receipt of the highest "eco-rating," AAA, in the photographic and office equipment categories from Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, a U.S. investment research company.
About WEC
About The WEC Gold Medal
About The Presentation Ceromony
Ricoh Press Release
World Environment Center Web Site World Enviro Web Site