RICOH:DEDICATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT

[Anonymous]

Ricoh Demonstrates Its Dedication to the Environment at CES 2004
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ — Ricoh Corporation, the leading provider of digital office equipment and an environmental leader among document solution companies, today announced that it will be participating at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada beginning January 8, 2004. Ricoh will be part of the environmental TechZone that will highlight various corporations’ commitment to protecting and preserving the environment through energy efficiency and electronics recycling.

Ricoh has led the office automation industry in producing environmentally friendly products and processes, creating a synergy between business and the environment. With the development of each new product, Ricoh demonstrates leadership in sustainability and commitment to worldwide environmental quality. Ricoh encourages its customers and partners to “Think Globally, Act Locally” promoting environmentally conscious manufacturing, distribution, use and the recycling of its products. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without unity, and Ricoh serves as model for industries around the world to be socially responsible and cognizant of the environmental impact of their corporate activities.

Ricoh’s energy-saving features are visible in products equipped with Quick Start-Up (QSU) technology, which significantly reduces energy consumption while a system is in sleep mode. Duplex copying at the speed of one-sided copying is another critical energy-saving feature that Ricoh includes in many of its products. As acknowledgement for its efforts of developing these energy-efficient features, Ricoh was the first recipient of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Copier of the Future” award in 1999.

Ricoh participates in many programs that seek to protect and preserve the environment, such as its nationwide Toner Cartridge Collection Program that encourages customers to return their toner cartridges when they are through with them. This practice not only keeps plastics out of landfills, it also conserves the materials and energy it would take to make new cartridges. Another program Ricoh developed is its Equipment De-manufacturing Program that recovers more than 95% of the material content from equipment that has reached the end of its useful service life.

Ricoh is a charter member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Program, and its diverse product line is compliant under the Energy Star Office Equipment Programs. The EPA has awarded Ricoh the Energy Star “Office Equipment Partner of the Year” for five consecutive years as well as the Energy Star “Labeling Partner of the Year” and Energy Star “Excellence in Consumer Education” in 2000. Additionally, Ricoh received the World Environment Center (WEC) Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development in 2003.

More information about Ricoh’s environmental programs and achievements can be found at http://www.ricoh-usa.com.

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January 8, 2004 at 10:39 AM