Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention (Products)
Such environmental certification as Germany’s BAM or Scandinavia’s Nordic
Swan Mark set high standards for chemicals contained in and emitted by products. Yet, we have set up an environmental certification that is even more
stringent than either of the above in order to minimize the use and emissions
of chemicals that are hazardous to the
environment. Moreover, in compliance
with requests from citizen groups and in
line with newly enacted laws and regulations, we have created manufacturing
techniques that have less environmental
impact.
We control the chemicals contained
in our products and the flow of chemicals in the manufacturing process using
the Ricoh Environmental and Chemical
Safety Information System (RECSIS).
We are also developing a system that
will provide the timely disclosure of
information on the use of chemical
substances as requested by our customers, OEM partners, and citizen
groups.
Goals and Progress
Reduce the volume of specified
chemical substances, such as
lead and PVC, at least 50% on a
per product basis in all products
introduced in fiscal 2001, compared with products introduced
in fiscal 1997.
Lead-free solder, polyolefinic
harnesses, and hexavalent-chromium-free steel boards are to be
used in all products marketed in
and after fiscal 2001.
Reduce the level of noise emitted at least 2 dB and emissions
of ozone and other by-products
at least 20% for all copiers, facsimiles, and laser printers introduced in fiscal 2001, compared
with products introduced in
1997.
As of fiscal 1999, the level of
noise emitted during operation
was reduced 1.7 dB and that
while on standby was reduced 2.5
dB, compared to 1997 levels.
Ozone emissions were reduced
20%, despite a slight increase in
dust emissions, compared with
those of fiscal 1997.
* Calculations are based on the weighted number of
copiers sold and uses a productivity of 50 sheets per
minute for all machines.
Changes in the Level of Noise Emitted by Machines in Operation
* Calculations are based on the weighted number of copiers sold
and uses a productivity of 50 sheets per minute for all machines.
75
Noise [dB(A)]
Concept of the Pollution Preventing Capabilities of Products
Noise emitted
during operation
Target value for
noise emitted
during operation
70
65
60
55
50
Noise emitted
while on standby
45
Target value for
noise emitted
while on standby
40
(FY)
1997
1998
Concentration[mg/m 3]
Changes in the Level of Chemical Substances Emitted by
Machines in Operation
1999
* Calculations are based on the weighted number of copiers sold
and uses a productivity of 50 sheets per minute for all machines.
Dust emitted
during operation
0.08
Target value for
dust emitted
during operation
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
Ozone emitted
during operation
0.01
Target value for
ozone emitted
during operation
0
(FY) 1997
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1998
1999
Environmental Activities
(Products and Business Sites)
Environmental Safeness of Supplies (Toner Cartridges, Thermal Paper, etc.)
Ricoh Environmental
and Chemial Safety
Information System
(RECSIS)
Database of
Laws and
regulations
Database of
raw materials
used in chemical
products
Development section:
Supplies
Database of the
environmental
safeness of
supplies
Material safety
information sheets
Publication
system
(information
disclosure system)
Database of the
environmental
safeness of
chemical
substances
Database of the
environmental
safeness of
machine
materials
Design section:
Machine products
Removal of parts and materials
Banned substances
Report on the
chemical content
of products
Database of
product
emissions
management
Energy consumption
Discharge of ozone,
dust, and styrene
Noise
Ionizing radiation
Information on the
environmental
safeness of products
Database of the
environmental
impact of products
Environmental impact information
on model-oriented manufacturing
Database of the
environmental
impact management
of model-oriented
manufacturing
Database of
the management
of handled
substances
Report on purchase, use, and
waste amount
Data on air and water discharge
Energy used
Ricoh Environmental and Chemical
Safety Information System
(RECSIS)
There are many substances that, while
useful for a product’s manufacturing
process, have undesirable effects on
the environment. The use of these substances needs to be controlled so that
they can be properly disposed of, collected, or phased out. RECSIS, Ricoh’s
chemical substance management system, contains data on 164 items based
on such ISO standards as those for the
more than 2,000 types of chemical substances listed, environmental hazards,
toxicity, and emergency procedures.
RECSIS also covers laws and regulations, including amendments, concerning the use of these chemicals in other
countries. In addition, we have begun
collecting data on the chemical contents of parts and materials purchased
by the Ricoh Group and managing data
on the use and volume of emissions
and waste from chemical substances
Large companies
Consumers
Information on the environmental
impact of products
Environmental safety at business sites
Business sites
handling chemical
substances
Material safety
Government authorities
information
Green procurement network
sheets
Information on
the
environmental
impact of products
Evaluation of
environmental safeness
Preparation of product
material safety
information sheets
Evaluation of compliancy
with laws and regulations
Environmental Safeness of Machine Products
Materials and parts
manufacturers
Sales bases
Production sites
Corporate
Environment Office
Corporate evaluation questionnaires for PRTR reports
Man-hours applied
Number of production units
Shipping unit price, etc
Government authorities
Environmental management
evaluation organizations
Total PRTR
Total data on the environmental
impact of manufacturing
processes
at the manufacturing sites of our suppliers. Through these efforts, we are now
able to improve our products and business sites enough to achieve our pollution prevention targets.
Reduction of Hexavalent-Chromium
and PVC
Ricoh has decided to use chromiumfree steel boards, which do not need a
zinc coating, in all copiers scheduled to
be released in fiscal 2001. The company has long been looking for a chromium-free steel board that can perform
adequately in electromagnetic wave
prevention and intensity but that does
not contain harmful hexavalent-chromium, and it has finally developed one
that meets these requirements.
The use of PVC has been prohibited
in 1993, pursuant to our recyclable design policy, except in materials used to
coat electric wire. PVC may produce
hydrogen chloride and dioxins, depending on the method of incineration.
Using substitute materials for electric wire
coating is expected to reduce the use of
PVC by 50% by the end of fiscal 2001,
compared with products marketed in 1997.
Acquisition of International Certification at Noise Testing Center
Ricoh’s Noise Testing Center acquired
certification based on ISO standards in
1998. This certification certifies the
technical ability of the test center and
the reliability of test results reported.
Ricoh is the first in Japan to have acquired certification by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) of U.S.A. on noise testing.
Noise Testing Center in Ricoh Omori
52
Pollution Prevention (Business Sites)
Concept of Pollution Prevention
at Business Sites
Goals and Progress
The Ricoh Group’s chemical substance
management system categorizes substances that fall under Japan’s PRTR*
Law as well as substances that are used
in other parts of the world according to
whether they are to be prohibited, reduced, or controlled. In line with our severe self-regulation policies, we endeavor to control as well as to reduce the
amount used, emitted, and disposed of.
We have also dealt with soil pollution
caused by chloric organic solvents
through the use of surveys, improvement planning, and the subsequent publication of the Ricoh Group Soil Improvement Manual, which outlines
stricter self-regulation measures than the
environmental standards set by the Japanese government. We are currently conducting surveys and carrying out improvements at Ricoh Group production
and research and development sites.
*Under the PRTR system, the release of potentially harmful environmental pollutants into the air, water, and soil; product contents;
and the transfer of waste are assessed by businesses, among others.
The results are totaled and released by a third-party organization.
Member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD), such as the United States, Canada, the
U.K., the Netherlands, and Japan, have adopted PRTR. The PRTR
Law in Japan was based on this system.
In fiscal 1997, Ricoh participated in the PRTR system that Keidanren independently started prior to its legislation by giving it a
summary of the PRTR data of all Ricoh business sites. We continued to report the PRTR data of all Group companies in fiscal 1998
and thereafter began reducing the consumption and emission of
PRTR substances.
Soil Surveys
All domestic production and research
and development sites of the Ricoh
Group conducted surveys of the presence of chloric organic solvents in soil
and underground water and reported
their findings to relevant local governments. Business sites that needed improvement conducted more detailed
surveys and cleanup activities pursuant
to the water purification plan. There
were no problems in the surrounding
areas of any site. Surveys are underway
for overseas production sites, and additional surveys and cleanup activities
are scheduled to be conducted, depending on results.
The Ricoh Group is to reduce
the use of substances subject to
PRTR at least 20% and emissions 50% or more, compared
with those of fiscal 1997, and
completely eliminate landfill
waste by fiscal 2001.
Substance use was reduced
13.2% and emissions 16.7% in
fiscal 1999.
The Ricoh Group is to completely eliminate the use of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene by fiscal 2001.
The use of trichloroethylene was
completely eliminated at all domestic and overseas business sites
as was the use of tetrachloroethylene at all domestic business sites.
Only one overseas business site
currently uses tetrachloroethylene
and is expected to completely
eliminate its use in fiscal 2001.
Restrict the use of dichloromethane to the manufacturing of
existing organic photosensitive
materials by the end of 2001 and
completely eliminate its use by
the end of fiscal 2007.*
*New addition in year 2000.
Changes in the Amount of Substances Discharged Following the Ricoh Group’s Implementation
of Pollution Prevention Measures
Air (NOx,SOx )
Water (BOD)
(tons/year)
100
80
(tons/year)
50
NOx
40
30
60
20
40
20
0
10
SOx
0
(FY) 1997
1998
1999
1997
1998
1999
(FY)
1997
1998
1999
NOx and SOx calculations were changed to better reflect fuel consumption performance because data measured
at business sites, which was calculated based on the concentration of gas emissions, was dispersed. Therefore,
the figures presented above differ from those in the 1999 issue.
Response to Chloric Organic Solution Pollution in Soil
and Underground Water*
* The areas surrounding business sites were not affected.
History of the use of relevant substances1
—
—
Ricoh Fukui
—
—
Ricoh Yashiro
—
—
Ricoh Ikeda
No pollution2
Ricoh Atsugi
No pollution2
Central Research Center
No pollution2
Applied Electronics Research Institute
No pollution2
Ricoh Hatano
Cleaning completed3
Ricoh Numazu, South Plant
Cleaning completed3
Ricoh Numazu, North Plant
Cleaning completed3
Ricoh Omori
Cleaning underway4
Ricoh Unitechno
1.
Current status
Ricoh Gotemba
—
—
Ricoh Microelectronics
No pollution2
Ricoh Optical Industries
Cleaning completed3
Hasama Ricoh
Cleaning underway4
Tohoku Ricoh
Cleaning underway4
Ricoh Elemex, Okazaki Plant
Cleaning underway4
Ricoh Elemex, Ena Plant
Cleaning underway4
Ricoh Keiki
Cleaning underway4
= Available
— = Not available
2. No pollution: No pollution exceeding environmental standards was detected inside or outside the business site.
3. Cleaning completed: Pollution exceeding environmental standards was detected, and site was cleaned.
4. Cleaning underway: Pollution exceeding environmental standards was detected, and site is being cleaned.
53
Environmental Activities
(Products and Business Sites)
Development of Water-Based Paint
Ricoh Industrie France has developed a
water-based paint that has been in use
since November 1998. The use of the
paint lowered the emissions of volatile
chemical compounds 83%, compared
to those from solvent-based paint that
was previously used in the manufacturing process of products. The lower
temperature and shorter time needed to
bake on water-based paint reduce costs
and energy requirements. As a result,
annual cost dropped approximately
EU27,000, or ¥2.8 million.
Survey Results on Substances* Subject to PRTR and the Self-Regulation of Exhaust Pollutants
in the Ricoh Group
* Substances designated by five electric/electronic organizations and not covered by the PRTR Law.
(tons/year)
Amount
Amount Amount
Amount Emission in Air Consumed Reduced Transported
(Waste Taken Off-Site)
Substance
43.4
—
41.1
—
—
2.3
143.1
—
141.3
—
1.0
0.8
Antimony oxide
12.0
—
11.4
—
0.4
0.3
Xylene (mixture)
12.3
10.0
0.1
0.0
0.9
1.3
Dichloromethane
234.3
180.7
—
—
2.9
50.8
Zinc chloride
Zinc oxide
26.3
1.2
—
—
—
25.0
Tetrachloroethylene
6.3
0.1
—
—
—
6.2
Copper I oxide
2.4
—
2.4
—
0.1
—
Copper II oxide
110.3
—
108.9
—
0.8
0.6
N, N-dimethylformamide
2.7
0.9
—
—
—
1.8
1,124.0
530.8
65.4
166.2
2.0
359.6
Nickel sulfate
12.1
—
5.2
—
—
6.9
Barium sulfate
4.8
—
4.5
—
0.2
0.0
Aluminum sulfate
1.5
—
0.5
—
—
0.9
4,4-isopropylidenediphenol
43.9
—
34.8
—
—
9.1
Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether
25.2
0.8
—
10.3
—
14.1
Glyoxal
20.8
—
18.1
—
—
2.7
Cerosolob Acetate
15.5
0.9
—
—
14.6
—
1.3-dichloro-2-propanol
9.2
9.2
—
—
—
—
Silicon carbide
1.2
—
1.2
—
—
—
Tetrahydrofuran
92.5
48.4
—
30.0
0.4
13.7
Tetrafluoromethane
1.4
1.0
0.4
—
—
—
Hexafluoroethane
2.7
1.9
0.8
—
—
—
31.9
—
22.1
—
0.0
9.8
Trichloroethylene
Solvent Gas Collection and Disposal
Devices
To reduce the usage or emissions of
PRTR substances, Ricoh Fukui uses a
device to collect and recycle organic
solvent gas generated in the manufacturing process. The plant uses a direct
solvent gas burner to reduce the
amount and density of emitted gas,
which is further treated in a deodorization process.
Amount
Recycled
Toluene
Lead solder
Data for substances amounting to at least one ton per year (“—” indicates no entry.)
Monitoring of Environmental Impact
Ricoh Industrie France, which is located
in a scenic area, takes measures to conserve the environment and monitors the
effects of its plant on the environment.
The company tests the quality of underground water periodically and stores
containers of used chemical substances
in a specific area to prevent the risk of
leakage of those substances during rain.
Direct solvent gas burner
Preventing the Evaporation of
Washing Solution
To prevent the washing solution used in
cleaning parts from evaporating, and
thereby reducing cost, Ricoh Optical Industries float plastic balls approximately
2 cm in diameter on the surface of the
solution. An experiment showed that
evaporation would be reduced by half
using this technique.
Machine used to wash parts
Closeup of plastic balls used to
prevent evaporation
Ricoh Industrie France
54