Ricoh announces Global SDGs Action 2019

TOKYO, May 30, 2019 – The Ricoh Group has announced that its “Ricoh Global SDGs Action 2019” will commence on 1st June. This month-long event encourages Group company employees to think about how to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to take action with a sense of global unity.

Of the 17 SDGs, the Ricoh Group focuses on eight it can contribute to by resolving social issues through business. The company is progressing a number of initiatives that contribute to achieving the SDGs having linked them to its corporate philosophy, business strategies, and environmental management. In recent years, every June, Ricoh organized an event called “Global Eco Action” which got employees to think about the environment by linking it to the United Nations’ World Environment Day. From 2019 onwards, Ricoh Global Eco Action is now changing its name to Ricoh Global SDGs Action. The aim to accelerate Ricoh’s contributions towards achieving the SDGs and encourage all employees in the Group to think and act, not only by doing eco-actions such as global warming countermeasures toward realizing a zero-carbon society, but also by addressing a broader range of social issues.

Ricoh aims to leverage the know-how that it has built up through Global Eco Action events and work together with customers and societies across the globe, as it expands its actions to help achieve the SDGs.

Period

• June 1–30, 2019
• June 5 is the UN World Environment Day and Ricoh Eco & SDGs Action Day

Activities for the Eco & SDGs Action Day

• SDGs Action Month Symposium to be held at the Ricoh Headquarters

Activities at each company

1.Ricoh Asia Pacific 
An “Eco Action Day Roundtable” based on the theme of “Recycling: The Road to Zero Waste?” will be held in Singapore on May 30. The meeting brings together experts in manufacturing, waste management, and civic society as well as the Director General of the Environment Agency, who are actively involved in SDG 13: Climate Action, to deep-dive into this important issue that will define our future. This event is Ricoh Asia Pacific’s largest environmental initiative, held annually in Singapore to commemorate the UN World Environment Day. It calls on individuals and organizations to pledge positive actions for the environment.

2.Ricoh Europe
In support of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, all employees will be asked to record their steps using an app or a pedometer and compete with each other in a “Step Challenge” throughout SDGs Action Month. Participants will be asked to enter a team of five and donate £5 per person with all proceeds going to charity.

3.Ricoh USA
In support of SDG 14: Life below Water, Ricoh USA will be focusing on aquatic habitats with visitors to Ricoh’s booth at InfoComm 2019 in Florida, the largest audiovisual exhibition in North America. Ricoh USA will donate $2 to a conservation organization for each visitor who expresses support for the Save the Manatee initiative.

4.Ricoh Japan
Employees will promote SDGs Actions to our customers and introduce activities internally that contribute to achieving each SDGs goal.

Major activities to be conducted by group employee

1. SDGs-pledge (individuals)
Employees will select challenges during the event period that address the 17 SDGs and enter their pledge in the SDGs-pledge database.

2. SDGs Action Report (departments, groups)
Departments or groups will decide on a theme, then plan and implement SDGs actions, and register and share their actions and outcomes in the database.

3. SDGs Performance Leaders (individuals, organizations, groups)
Individuals, organizations and groups will decide on a theme, and post related photos and videos to promote SDGs action on social media.

4. Show commitment to using SDGs promotional materials
SDGs promotional material will feature in presentations and email signatures used during the event period to specify how our actions relate to the SDGs and publicly promote such initiatives.

Award activities

The Ricoh Sustainability Management Division will award some of the worldwide activities registered in the database as examples of especially notable contributions “to contribute to achieving the SDGs.”

1. SDGs Action Award:
   Recognizing activities that contributed to SDGs Action.;
2. SDGs Performance Leader Award:
   Recognizing individuals and groups who contributed to SDGs Action.
3. Top 20 SDGs Action Senryu (Japan only):
   Recognizing unique senryu poems that relate to SDGs Action.

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