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- Themes being Engaged at the Center
Themes being Engaged at the Center
Ricoh promotes active "open innovation" by creating new businesses in the environment and energy fields with the aim of realizing a zero-carbon society and a circular economy. We are looking forward to working with companies and research institutes considering collaborative creation and businesses, as well as organizations interested in our products. Please feel free to contact us.
Realizing a zero-carbon society
Ricoh has established the “Group’s Environmental Goals” for 2050 based on the Paris Agreement, international agreement adopted at COP 21 to address the issue of global warming, and conducts business activities to be able to achieve the goals. Also, Ricoh has joined RE100*, a global initiative network of companies committed to use 100% renewable electricity, marking a first for Japan. Aiming for a zero-carbon society, the Center operates experimental research projects on energy management that concurrently enable comfortable business spaces and energy saving.
* RE100:Companies collaborating in this global initiative seek to source 100% renewable electricity.
Lighting and air-conditioning control systems
Monitoring people movements and indoor environments to optimize lighting and air-conditioning
We created a system that draws on light, occupancy, and ambient temperature sensors to manage information in the cloud and optimize lighting and air-conditioning controls. This setup effortlessly enhances energy efficiency and savings without compromising comfort and convenience.
Energy-harvesting devices
Advanced solar cells employing material technology for organic photoreceptors
Advanced solar cells eliminate the need for power from outlets and coin cell batteries, resolving power problems in various usage environments. Solid-state dye sensitized solar cells are highly efficient, even under indoor light. Organic thin-film solar cells are light and flexible. Perovskite solar cells can generate electricity, even in space. Our clean, smart, and independent devices will contribute to the emerging Internet of Things.
Reusing hybrid electric vehicle batteries
Employing lithium-ion batteries
An absence of hybrid vehicle lithium-ion battery recycling and reuse techniques has fueled concerns about disposing of numerous such batteries in the years ahead. In view of a shift to electric vehicles and decentralized energy sources, we are developing ways to reuse lithium-ion batteries from these vehicles as assistive power sources at electric vehicle charging stations and in stationary power storage systems.
Employing wood biomass
Local production and consumption model encompasses everything from forest harvesting to energy utilization
We collaborate with local governments and forestry professionals in striving to conserve forests, cut carbon dioxide emissions, and create energy. We aim to contribute to regional development through the Gotemba Model, a woody biomass energy circulation system that we developed to use thinned lumber and create jobs nationwide.
Realization of a Circular Economy
In order to achieve a sustainable society in the future without depleting the earth’s limited resources, it is necessary to realize a “circular economy” where the greatest effects are generated with the least amount of resources and energy.
Ricoh supports the realization of a circular economy through our efforts to efficiently circulate resources at each of the three stages: when products are manufactured, when products and services are used by customers, and after products are used.
Comet Circle™ Concept for Realizing a Circular Economy
Foamed PLA sheets
A new alternative material to fossil-derived plastic
The effects of global warming are visible as worldwide climate changes and environmental pollution grows worse therefore the industrial sector has the duty to urgently develop and expand alternatives to fossil-derived plastic.
It is our mission to realize a zero carbon and circular economy. We have developed a foamed PLA sheet “PLAiR” which can be molded into various applications with our proprietary foaming control technology utilizing mainly PLA (Polylactic acid) which is biobased and compostable.
Sorting plastics
Helping streamline plastic recycling
Japan disposes of around nine million metric tons of plastic waste every year. Most waste plastic that companies would have shipped overseas for processing is building up in Japan owing to importation restrictions in China and other countries. There is an urgent need to develop plastic waste treatment facilities in Japan. It is difficult to recycle waste incorporating varying types of plastic. Ricoh identifies materials in plastics to add waste sorting and recycling, thus helping to create a circular economy.
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