Ricoh has been recognised as a pioneer of sustainable business in Deloitte’s Towards Zero Impact Growth: Strategies of leading companies in 10 industries report.

The world-leading consultancy firm’s report on the outcomes of its first-ever Zero Impact Growth Monitor (ZIG-M) identified Ricoh as being among an elite group of six top global brands to have already reached the “ecosystem” level of sustainable business. Puma, Nike, Nestlé, Unilever and Natura make up the remainder of this group, which was praised for embedding policies into a long-term strategic vision, in an effort to minimise their negative environmental and societal impacts.

“Ecosystem” sits one level below the ZIG-M’s top assessment level, “Economy”; 65 companies were assessed in total.

Stephen Palmer, Production Print Director, Ricoh UK said, “It is very pleasing to see Ricoh recognised for its hard work in building towards a sustainable future for its business. Sustainability is a deeply ingrained part of Ricoh’s corporate culture, evidenced by the setting of ambitious long-term targets stretching all the way to 2050 - a world-first in business.

“Sustainability is the responsibility of us all. At the core of our own manufacturing and business activities, initiatives have been taken in the three core areas of energy conservation and prevention of global warming, resource conservation and recycling and pollution. And, for the benefit of production print customers, Ricoh’s Carbon Balanced Printing Programme allows clients to promote an even more sustainable printing service by becoming carbon neutral for every single job completed on a Ricoh production printing machine.”

By 2050, Ricoh Group has committed itself to reducing the total CO2 emissions from its products and services throughout their lifecycles; input of new resources and the use of chemical substances to one-eighth of the levels at 2000 through sustainable environmental management.