Billboard powered only by wind and solar energy sets a new standard for responsible advertising across the globe

London, UK, 28 June, 2011: Ricoh Europe, a specialist in office solutions, managed document services and production printing, today unveiled Europe’s first ‘eco-board’, a billboard powered 100 per cent by wind and solar power.The Ricoh eco-board is the first of its kind in Europe in having dual natural sources of power so that it illuminates only when sufficient power is collected, demonstrating by example the company’s long term commitment to sustainable business.

“Our ethos is to go beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements relating to sustainability by proactively promoting environmentally responsible practices in our own business and for our customers. The launch of the eco-board takes us one step further by reminding wider public audiences to act in a sustainable way and think beyond the obvious when it comes to protecting natural resources,” said Steve Saito, Chairman and CEO of Ricoh Europe.

“At Ricoh, we have been committed to reducing our company’s carbon footprint for decades, already achieving zero waste to landfill at European factories back in 2001.  We are also focused on encouraging other businesses to adopt sustainable business models that can better our cities, countries and our planet whilst improving productivity and profits.”

The European eco-board is located on the M4 motorway which runs from London to London Heathrow airport, the gateway to Europe. The eco-board is powered by 96 solar panels and 5 individual wind turbines and forms a key part of Ricoh’s overall commitment to raising environmental awareness in the region. Travellers across Europe journeying into the heart of London will pass the eco-board which carries Ricoh’s Managed Document Services message – the company’s sustainable approach to streamlining business processes and document workflows.

The European eco-board joins Ricoh’s solar powered billboard launched in Times Square, New York last year.

Ricoh’s Sustainability Ethos
The launch of the European eco-board marks the end of Ricoh’s global eco action month which saw employees globally take part in activities to support the company’s sustainability and biodiversity commitments as part of Ricoh’s endorsement of the annual United Nations World Environment Day on 05 June 2011. Ricoh has a strong history of sustainability and an environmentally responsible heritage which can be traced back to the company’s founder in 1936. With 23 operations in EMEA, Ricoh is focused on improving business processes to help customers increase their value in sustainability while reducing their environmental risk through smart products and ways of working. The company believes that it is the responsibility of every business to help protect the environment and using eco-boards ushers in a new era for its approach to advertising.

Industry recognition: Ricoh was recognised as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the 3rd year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute for going beyond legal minimums, introducing innovative ideas to benefit the public and forcing its competitors to follow suit by consistently upping the ante for what it takes to be an ethical leader. Ricoh was also listed for the 7th consecutive year as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations, recognising its development of innovative green offerings.
Industry leadership: In the 1980s, Ricoh was the first company to introduce digital multi-functional devices to the market. These combined copier and fax functions or printer and scanner functions, reducing the need for multiple single-function devices. This resulted in significant reductions in costs and energy consumption.
In 2005 Ricoh was the first company in the industry to introduce biomass plastic into the manufacture of products. These plastics are recyclable and do not contribute to global warming to such an extent as their petroleum based counterparts
In 2005, Ricoh launched a multi-function digital copier made with plastics with 50% plant-based materials, increasing to 70% in 2008.
In 2009 Ricoh developed colour toner using a unique polyester polymerization process which fuses at a lower temperature than its predecessor, resulting in energy efficiencies. It also yields more toner per tube resulting in less waste.
To find out more about how Ricoh’s eco-boards:
Visit http://www.ricoh.com/about/company/promotions/eco-billboards/ for more about eco-boards worldwide.

Find out about Ricoh’s Total Green Office Solutions that help businesses to reduce the impact they have on the environment, including sustainability consultancy, eco-technology and certified pre-owned equipment.