Effective Use of Water Resources

Policy/Basic Concept

As the world's population increases and economic development progresses, the escalation of problems related to water stress and water pollution are becoming social issues. Consequently, corporations are expected to utilize water resources effectively, reduce consumption, and prevent pollution.

Water resources are indispensable for the Ricoh Group, especially for our toner production, so we pay special attention to how we handle water. Although the impact of water issues varies depending on business characteristics and the local environment, the Ricoh Group has established a policy on water resources and is promoting the effective utilization and reduction of water resources by implementing activities on a global basis while understanding and considering the impact on business and the local environment. Furthermore, in consideration of the local characteristics of water issues, we are working together with local citizens—including diverse communities and suppliers—to address water resource issues.

Structures/Systems

To continuously discuss mid- to long-term issues of the Ricoh Group in the areas of environment, society, and governance at the management level, the ESG Committee, chaired by the CEO, was established in May 2018. The committee meets once every quarter with the participation of Senior Management to discuss the status of initiatives, issues, and investment decisions related to environmental issues, including water risks, as important themes for management. Its deliberations are regularly reported to the Board of Directors, which then supervises the execution of ESG activities at a high level.

In addition, the Group has established a water resource management structure at each business site to control wastewater discharge and water intake.

Collating data and formulating water management plans

The Ricoh Group formulates water management plans for its approximately 300 global sites, including major production sites, based on the amounts of water used, discharged, and recycled, and manages the plans and results for each fiscal year. The Ricoh Group's environmental impact monitoring system analyzes data on water intake and wastewater discharge and utilizes this data for PDCA management.

Water risk assessment and response to water stress regions

We utilize the "Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas" from the World Resources Institute (WRI) to assess water stress and water scarcity risks at our production sites and conduct water risk assessments. Among the indicators set in "Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas 4.0," business sites categorized as "high" or above in "Baseline Water Stress" or "Baseline water depletion" are identified as "water stress areas." As a result of the evaluation, it has been confirmed that the withdrawal rate from water stress areas accounts for less than 10% of Ricoh Group's total water intake, and sites located in water stress areas comprise less than 10% of all Ricoh Group business sites. The water stress areas in which we operate include six locations: China, Thailand, Indonesia and the US, with a total water intake of 263,692㎥ for fiscal year 2023. As part of measures in water stress areas, we actively engage in dialogue with stakeholders such as local administrations and communities. For example, we set voluntary targets significantly below the water intake restriction limits imposed by authorities and have achieved initiatives towards meeting these targets.

Targets and Performance

The Ricoh Group prioritizes the conservation of local environments and strives to maximize the effective utilization of water. To achieve this, the group establishes overall targets and evaluates water usage, identifying opportunities for improving water efficiency and actively engaging in related initiatives. In areas where water withdrawal requirements are set by the local government and water stress is a serious concern, we set targets based on indicators to ensure that we comply with government requirements and use water efficiently according to the characteristics of our business. To comply with regulations and solve local water issues, we are working to establish voluntary standards that are stricter than government regulations.

Target: Reduce the volume of water withdrawal below that of the previous year*

*Target for FY 2023: ＜3,170 (1,000㎥)/ Target for FY 2024: ＜3,124 (1,000㎥)

Performance

*Due to improved data accuracy, we have revised the data from FY2020

At one of our sites in a water stress area, Shanghai Ricoh Digital Equipment Co., Ltd., in consultation with local authorities, has set water conservation goals and is actively working towards them.

FY 2023 Target: 48.2 (1,000㎥)

FY 2023 Actual: 42.7 (1,000㎥)

In fiscal 2023, there were no violations or fines/penalties related to environmental regulations, including wastewater regulations for Ricoh Group.

Penalties and fines concerning the environment (including wastewater) for the Ricoh Group

For more information related water resources, please see below ESG data
ESG data

Initiatives

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