1. 148 Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
Managing CSR Across
Boundaries
To facilitate this commitment and
growth, we are working to make so-
cial and environmental contributions
toward the sustainable development of
society. With globalization expanding
and deepening in recent years, issues
facing society are becoming increasingly
complicated and diversified. In tandem
with this social change come increasing
changes in the business environment. In
this situation, corporations are expected
to make meaningful contributions to-
ward overcoming multiple social issues
while also creating economic value.
Ricoh was one of the first companies to
become a participant to the UN Global
Compact in 2002 and the first corpora-
tion in Japan to establish a dedicated
Corporate Social Responsibility division
in 2003, within Ricoh Europe, the CSR
Office was formed in 2006. The division
produced the Ricoh CSR Charter and
Ricoh Code of Conduct, which was
based on the principles defined in the
UN Global Compact. It also incorpo-
rated the principles and philosophies
of Ricoh’s founder. Currently Ricoh is
reviewing the use of ISO 26000 and
its operating companies in Europe are
now evaluating how best to use this
framework to deliver more value to
all stakeholders.
Ricoh has a wide stakeholder group that
is involved on a global basis. It reviews
the CSR activities of its partner com-
panies and key members of its global
supply chain against international CSR
frameworks and makes continuous im-
provements through a self-assessment
process. As it pursues business growth
while simultaneously helping to sup-
port the development of society, Ricoh
recognizes the need to do more than just
respond to constantly changing environ-
ments and to the needs of society. Ricoh
believes it is necessary to work as a mem-
ber of society to create new value that
will facilitate sustainable social growth
and to address various challenges facing
society. With this understanding, it is
proactively cooperating with a variety of
stakeholders globally in implementing
social initiatives and activities. It proac-
tively involves its individual employees
in these activities through corporate
programs and regional employee-volun-
teering schemes. It expects that each of
these activities will increase awareness
of social issues and help employees to
understand how they can contribute
to solving such issues by encouraging
them to take action. In 2012 a Global
Social Policy was launched, which covers
three themes:
• Global Environment Conservation
• Community Development
• Raising the Next Generation
Putting good intention into
practice: social issues
In its value-creating CSR activities that
revolve around local communities, the
Ricoh Group provides its products, ser-
vices, and human resources for the
purpose of contributing to the resolu-
tion of social problems in developing
countries. In 2011, Ricoh launched
Ricoh
By Andrew Lofts, Ricoh
From the very beginning, Ricoh has been energized by combining innovative products and
services with a sustainable approach to business. The company’s founder, Kiyoshi Ichimura,
nurtured a unique pool of thinkers who envisioned a world where business, society, and the
planet are interconnected. As a group, we have a regional framework whereby we connect
to the collective imagination and creativity of all our people, which ensures alignment
across all regions. To support Ricoh’s goals and meet social expectations, accurately and
promptly, the Ricoh Group actively introduces internationally-established CSR frameworks
throughout its supply chain.
