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Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment, today announced that five of its sales, service and training facilities recently achieved ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) Certification. The internationally recognized standard, managed by the International Organization for Standardization, certifies corporations and businesses of all sizes that meet stringent criteria, such as creating, adhering to, and regularly evaluating its EMS for continual improvement, securing top executive commitment, ensuring resource and energy conservation and preventing pollution, while complying with relevant environmental laws and regulations. By certifying its EMS under ISO 14001, Ricoh has committed its business operations at every level to implement, maintain and constantly improve environmental practices throughout the corporation.

ISO 14001 outlines the steps for an organization to develop its own EMS, offering ways to systematically reduce its environmental impact. Special focus is placed on energy consumption, use of natural resources, paper handling and treatment of waste. Three of the facilities achieving the ISO 14001 certification are part of Ricoh Business Solutions, Inc. (RBS), the company’s sales and service division, and are located in New York City and Fairfield, N.J.; another is the Ricoh Technology Portal in New York City, a training showroom used to demonstrate products and workflow solutions. Both of the New York facilities are the first offices in their respective buildings to be ISO 14001 certified. The fifth location is a Ricoh Americas Corporation facility in Duluth, Georgia, which houses Ricoh University South and the Atlanta RBS division.

Ricoh has achieved ISO 14001 certification at every manufacturing plant worldwide and is now in the process of certifying its non-manufacturing facilities, including sales and services offices. The Ricoh Americas Corporation headquarters building in West Caldwell, N.J., also meets the certification.

“We are confident Ricoh’s environmental and ISO 14001 programs will continue to differentiate us as a sustainability leader in a marketplace that is becoming greener and more demanding each and every day,” said Joe Villanella, region vice president, Ricoh Business Solutions, Northeast Headquarters, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “The certification is more than an acknowledgement of efforts made in the name of conservation. Achieving this rigorous international standard tells our partners, customers and suppliers that we are committed to protecting the environment and encourage them to do the same.”

Once an organization has developed an EMS, a third party registrar must perform a comprehensive audit to ensure the criteria of the ISO 14001 have been met. Ricoh’s overall environmental commitment, employee EMS awareness, ISO Web site, supporting materials and Ricoh Americas Corporation environmental initiatives and programs contributed to the successful certification. Many employees were interviewed during the process, demonstrating expert knowledge of the ISO 14001, EMS Policy, Fiscal Year objectives and programs, as well as a positive and concerned attitude toward the importance of sustainability. Continued external assessment audits will be conducted yearly and the entire EMS must be recertified for each site every three years.