London, 9 July, 2013 – IT services company Ricoh has proactively measured its sustainability credentials through the University of Northampton’s pioneering Biodiversity Index, allowing the company to further improve its conservation efforts. The web-based tool is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, allowing organisations to measure plant diversity during the main plant growing season of April to October in the UK. The tool also offers advice and suggestions on how to improve biodiversity and habitats on a site, along with relevant web links for more information.
As part of its commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation, Ricoh proactively put itself forward for the programme, seeking to gain insight into the diversity of its working environments and achieve its social responsibility objectives.
“Ricoh has long been a leading pioneer in sustainable environmental management and using the Biodiversity Index tool has allowed us to gain a greater insight into our plant diversity and habitats onsite. The tool has helped us develop a clear action plan to further enhance our environmental credentials and continue to develop our long-term vision of delivering a sustainable and responsible working environment,” said Tim Taylor, Sustainability Manager, Ricoh UK.
The Biodiversity Index tool was developed by the University of Northampton as part of the SEED Sustainability Project. It is jointly funded by the University of Northampton and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It is currently available free of charge to other academic institutions with over 30 UK Universities now registered and is currently being launched to commercial organisations for a fee.
“We’re proud to have developed such a pioneering tool which gives organisations a critical insight into the diversity of plant life on site, often raising the profile of biodiversity and empowering positive change. Forward thinking companies like Ricoh, who are committed to building cleaner, greener working environments, have taken up the opportunity to gain this insight, and we encourage many other organisations to follow suit,” said Richard Moore, SEED Sustainability Project Manager, the University of Northampton.
| About Ricoh |
Ricoh is a global technology company specialising in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2013, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,924 billion yen (approx. 20 billion USD).
The majority of the company’s revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialised industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives.
Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees.
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Ellie Turner
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