Ricoh India meets the global environmental benchmark

Ricoh India Ltd. a leader in the field of Printing & Document Management, IT Services & Communication Solutions, on the occasion of ‘World Environment Day,’ announced that it has received Silver ratings for a total of 32 of its imaging equipment products marketed in India, including MFPs and printers, as qualified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registry. Ricoh is the first manufacturer to have its Imaging Equipment products meet the stringent environmental benchmarks in India as established by the EPEAT rating system.

Speaking on the occasion Manoj Kumar, CEO and Managing Director, Ricoh India Ltd. said, “Ricoh believes that business development is compatible with social sustainability and we are proud that we are able to lead the way to higher, more reliable levels of environmental excellence. As part of our important focus on initiatives to achieve those goals, Ricoh has developed environmentally friendly products while promoting energy conservation, production of smaller and lighter products, resource circulation, and a reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive substances. Ricoh India is very proud that we are able to lead the way to higher, more reliable levels of environmental excellence. We will continue to pursue economic, social, and environmental value so as to generate technological and business model innovations that make a difference”

EPEAT makes it convenient for consumers to take green purchasing decisions as it rates products on a lifecycle basis. To be added to the EPEAT registry, an imaging device must meet at least 33 required environmental performance criteria. EPEAT ratings help companies, governments and consumers around the world compare and purchase greener devices, resulting in significant environmental benefits.

Manufacturers must register their products in EPEAT on a country-by-country basis to ensure all product and service criteria are supported and verified for local markets. EPEAT addresses the elimination of toxic substances, the use of recycled and recyclable materials, product design for recycling, product longevity, energy efficiency, corporate performance and packaging attributes. It also requires manufacturers to assume responsibility for collection and responsible recycling of all registered devices.

Sarah O’Brien, Director of Global Stakeholder Engagement, Green Electronics Council, the nonprofit group that manages the EPEAT system said, “As the first to register Imaging products in India, Ricoh has shown its leadership as a pioneer in voluntary performance ratings, and we congratulate them for this significant environmental and business accomplishment. These EPEAT registrations demonstrate Ricoh’s desire to take proactive steps in meeting its customers’ environmental demands. EPEAT rated electronic products are recognized worldwide for their high levels of environmental performance; by meeting the system’s challenging criteria Ricoh India will make it easier for their customers to reduce their own environmental impact.”

In its endeavor to ensure a ‘Swachh Bharat’, free of electronic waste, Ricoh India calls for its customers to avail the free ‘take-back service’ for end-of-life machines and toner cartridges, so as to recycle it in an environmentally sound manner.