Ricoh signs “Uniting business and governments to recover better” statement

TOKYO, Japan, June 17 2020 – Ricoh Company, Ltd., announces that it has joined forces with over 170 global businesses by signing the “Uniting Business and Governments to Recover Better” statement backed by the United Nations Global Compact and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*¹ . The statement, which is part of SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5 °C campaign, is urging Governments around the world to align their COVID-19 economic aid and recovery efforts with the latest climate science.

“Collaboration between governments and businesses will be key to building a positive post-pandemic recovery plan, both economically and environmentally” says Nicola Downing, COO, Ricoh Europe. “Now is not the time to lose sight of our climate action efforts and our commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We need more than ever to focus on our 2050 net-zero emission target and help our customers adopt sustainable practices.”

In March 2020, Ricoh set new global emissions goals for 2030 as science tells us that action over the next 10 years will be particularly important. Its new target aims to reduce the Group’s greenhouse gas emissions by 63% from a 2015 baseline. This new target, which has been approved by SBTi, will help limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The statement stresses the importance of an economic recovery in line with the 1.5°C target and encourages governments not to ignore their climate change policies in their COVID-19 recovery plans.

In accelerating its transformation post-COVID-19, Ricoh will continue to contribute to the achievement of a zero carbon society by 2050. It will do this by accelerating energy-saving initiatives and renewables usage, as well as providing digital services for customers to support new ways of working, such as remote working and distance learning.

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The SBTi is a joint initiative of CDP, the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund that aims to enable leading companies to set ambitious and meaningful corporate greenhouse gas reduction targets.