Sustainable Environmental Management - Ricoh

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IPM-based green space management:
An initiative to conserve biodiversity of office premises
Reducing the use of pesticides to less than 1% of
the previous year’s level in the green spaces at
Ricoh Ohmori Office
At the Ricoh Group’s office and factories around the world, green
space and greenery constitute an important part of these business
sites. Some locations even have lush green forests within their
premises. To conserve the biodiversity of such natural environments
within our properties, the current Environmental Action Plan,
effective for three years from April 2011, calls for: (1) maintenance of
greenery coverage rates, (2) removal of invasive alien species, and (3)
minimal use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
To recover the health of the ecosystems on our premises and
in neighboring areas, the Ricoh Ohmori Office in Japan started to
manage the green space on the premises under the approach of
integrated pest management (IPM)*, a comprehensive approach to
pest and weed management with minimal use of chemicals, in 2010.
Collaborating with GREEN WISE, a green management company,
the Ohmori Office implemented IPM-based pest control measures,
including physical removal, use of microbe-based pesticides,
reviewing and changing where necessary the timing of carrying out
pruning activities and the layout and types of greenery planted,
Periodical monitoring
and the conduction of periodical monitoring, along with other
necessary actions. As a result, pesticide usage at the office was
reduced to less than 0.17% of the previous year’s level. In 2012,
other offices and plants in and outside of Japan also introduced the
IPM approach into their green space management initiatives to help
conserve biodiversity in their respective regions.
* Integrated pest management: An integrated approach for pest and weed control, which
has been internationally adopted in agricultural operations in recent years. IPM adopts
an optimal combination of pest and weed prevention and control means based on the
consideration of every possible technique available. It aims to reduce the use of pesticides
and other chemicals to minimal levels while at the same time preventing the proliferation
and growth of pests and weeds and reducing and minimizing hazards to human health and
the environment.
Major IPM components include:
• Physical control: Using light, sound, heat and mechanical methods;
• Chemical control: Applying chemicals derived from natural ingredients;
• Biological control: Introducing natural enemies of target pests; and
• Cultivation control: Improving the quality of soil (e.g. enhancing drainage and ventilation)
Conservation of forest ecosystems
Among various ecosystems, the Ricoh Group focuses particularly on forest ecosystems with rich biodiversity. We started forest ecosystem conservation
projects in fiscal 2000 and now promote such projects in six countries and seven regions around the world. In these projects, we work to develop a
society where local residents can maintain harmonious relationships with the forests in which they live and depend upon.
■ Ricoh’s forest ecosystem conservation projects (As of the end of March 2012)
Start date Country Project name/NGO partner
Nov. 2001
Nov. 2001
Mar. 2002
May 2004
Japan
Japan
Ghana
Russia
Nagano Kurohime Afan Forest Conservation/
C. W. Nicol Afan Forest Foundation
Conservation of the Yanbaru Forest in Okinawa/
Yanbaru Forest Trust
Restoration of tropical rain forests/Conservation
International
Conservation of Taiga, the northern limit habitat of
tigers/Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan)
Aug. 2007
Aug. 2007
Jul. 2011
China
Brazil
Malaysia
Conservation of biodiversity at the Three Parallel Rivers,
a World Heritage Site/Asia Green-Culture Association
Restoration of forests in Boa Nova, lowland tropical
forests along the Atlantic coast/BirdLife International
Asia Division
Revitalization of mangrove forests on the north-central
Selangor coast/Birdlife International Asia Division
For the details on the projects WEB www.ricoh.com/environment/biodiversity/forest_ecosystem/01_01.html
Project for revitalization of mangrove forests on the north-central
Selangor coast in Malaysia
Mangrove forests comprise a distinctive ecosystem that features the rich biodiversity of
Malaysia. However, such forests are diminishing year by year as a result of illegal logging.
The aim of this project is to share recognition of the importance of this forest ecosystem
with the local residents and to achieve revitalization and sustainable conservation of
such forests through environmental education and tree planting activities.
Ricoh Group Biodiversity Policy
WEB
www.ricoh.com/environment/management/principle2.html
Ricoh Group Sustainability Report 2012 74