Ricoh Concludes a Positive Impact Finance Loan Agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank for Two Consecutive Years

19 Jun 2023

Continuous high evaluation of the Ricoh Group's proactive ESG initiatives

TOKYO, June 19, 2023 – Ricoh and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (“Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank”) have concluded a “Positive Impact Finance (with unspecified use of funds)” loan agreement that is in line with the Principles for Positive Impact Finance*1 released by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (“UNEP FI”)*2. This is the second year to conclude this agreement following the previous fiscal year.

Positive Impact Finance (“PIF”) is intended to support corporations' activities that comprehensively analyze and evaluate their impacts (both positive and negative) related to the environment, society, and the economy. The most notable feature of PIF is that the degree of contribution from corporate activities, products, and services in achieving Sustainable Development Goals is used as an evaluation indicator and monitored based on publicly disclosed information and supports corporations' activities to achieve these goals through engagement.

Positioning ESG initiatives as “essential initiatives for generating future finances,” Ricoh has identified seven material issues in two areas, “Resolving social issues through business” and “Robust management infrastructure,” to support materiality. There are 16 ESG targets linked to the identified material issues. In this agreement, the progress of newly revised ESG targets under the 21st Mid-Term Management Strategy, which started in the fiscal year 2023, are adopted as one of the evaluation criteria.

Evaluation Criteria for Positive Impact Assessment

ThemeContentGoals and IndicatorsSDGs
Contribution to Zero-carbon SocietyUpholding the Science Based Target (SBT) of 1.5°C, we will work to reduce GHG emissions substantially and supply products and solutions that contribute to the decarbonization of society as a whole.(a) Developing thorough energy conservation and CO2 reduction activitiesGoals
  • Reduce GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 50% by FY2025 and 63% by 2030 (compared to FY2015)
  • Reduce GHG emissions (Scope 3 procurement, transportation, and use categories) by 35% by FY2025 and 40% by FY2030 (compared to FY2015)
  • Carbon neutrality of the entire value chain by 2050
Indicators (KPI)

GHG emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3)

(b) Active utilization of renewable energyGoals

Switch to renewable energy sources for 40% of electricity needed for business by FY2025, 50% by 2030, and 100% by 2050.

Indicators (KPI)

Renewable energy usage ratio

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 13: Climate Action

Contribution to Circular EconomyWe will further enhance our 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) measures and reduce the use and foster the substitution of plastic materials and provide on-demand printing service, thereby helping customers make efficient use of resources.Goals
  • Reduce the rate of new resource use in products to 80% or less by FY2025, 60% or less by 2030, and 12% or less by 2050.
  • Reduce the use of “virgin fossil-based plastic” in product packaging by 50% or more by 2030.
  • Increase the percentage of recycled plastic materials used in imaging products to at least 50% by 2030
  • Complete material labeling and single-material labeling for all plastic parts and packaging materials by 2025
Indicators (KPI)
  • Virgin material usage ratio
  • Amount of “virgin fossil-based plastic” used in product packaging
  • Percentage of recycled plastic materials used in imaging products
  • Progress in material labeling and single-material labeling for plastic parts and packaging materials

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Contribution to Community and SocietyWe will expand value proposition area by contributing to maintain, develop, and streamline regional and societal systems through technology and customer base.Goals

Contribute to the enhancement of social infrastructure of 15-20 million people by FY2025 and 30 million people by 2030.

Indicators (KPI)

Number of people to whom we have contributed by improving social infrastructure*

*The number of residents who are expected to benefit from Ricoh's contribution to regional and social development, such as the fields of education, healthcare, community development, and municipal services.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Strengthening Sustainability throughout the Global Supply Chain We will strengthen collaboration with our business partners and build a Win-Win-Win relationship between our company, business partners, and society.Goals
  • Obtain ICT sector top in the CHRB score*
Indicators (KPI)
  • CHRB score
*Corporate Human Rights Benchmark: The International Human Rights Initiative that established by institutional investors and NGOs selects and evaluates approximately 250 global companies from five sectors (agricultural products, extractives, ICT and automotive).

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic growth

Realization of decent work and respect for diversityWe will respect the diversity of employees, upholding the empowerment of self-motivated employees in our management policy and strive to create workplaces where employees can work with vigor.Goals
  • Ratio of female executives to be at least 18% in Japan by 2030
  • Increase the ratio of female managers to at least 10.0% in Japan and 20.0% globally by FY2025
  • Ricoh Family Group employee engagement scores to be at or above 3.91(Japan: 3.69, North America: 4.18, Latin America: 4.14、EMEA: 4.01, APAC: 4.15)by FY2025
Indicators (KPI)
  • Female executive ratio
  • Female manager ratio
  • Ricoh Family Group employee engagement score

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities


To ensure the transparency and objectivity of the evaluation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank obtained a third-party opinion*3 from Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd.

*1 The Principles for Positive Impact Finance

The Principles for Positive Impact Finance was developed by UNEP FI in January 2017 as a financial framework for achieving the SDGs. Companies disclose the level of contributions to achieving SDGs through KPIs. Banks then provide funding by evaluating the positive impact observed from these KPIs that is intended to guide the borrowers to increase positive impact and reduce negative impact.

The lending bank, as a responsible financial institution, will check if the impact is continuing or not by monitoring the indicators.

*2 The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an executive body for implementing the “Human Environment Declaration” and the “International Environmental Action Programme” established in 1972 as a subsidiary body to the United Nations system. UNEP FI represents a broad as well as a close partnership between UNEP and more than 200 global financial institutions. Since its establishment in 1992, UNEP FI has been working in concert with financial institutions and policy/regulatory authorities to transform itself into a financial system that integrates economic development and ESG considerations.

*3 For information on Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd., please visit:
https://www.jcr.co.jp/en/

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Ricoh Concludes a Positive Impact Finance Loan Agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank

About Ricoh

Ricoh is a leading provider of integrated digital services and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation of workplaces, workspaces and optimize business performance.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh's global operation reaches customers in approximately 200 countries and regions, supported by cultivated knowledge, technologies, and organizational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history. In the financial year ended March 2023, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,134 billion yen (approx. 16.0 billion USD).

It is Ricoh's mission and vision to empower individuals to find Fulfillment through Work by understanding and transforming how people work so we can unleash their potential and creativity to realize a sustainable future.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com