Ricoh Becomes First Imaging Company To begin EPEAT Certified Products

Ricoh has become the first imagining corporation to receive Silver ratings for a total of 32 of its imaging equipment products marketed in India, including MFPs and printers, as qualified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registry.

EPEAT is the definitive global environmental rating systems for electronics. Last year, India become the 43rd county in which EPEAT registration and verification services are available, helping buyers select products that reduce their environmental impact. The EPEAT registry in India included more than 260PC/ PC display registration from three manufacturers like HP, Dell and Acer. Soon the organisation will come out with environmental standards for Servers and Mobile manufactures.

Ricoh is the first manufacturer to have its Imaging equipment products meet the stringent environmental benchmarks in India as established by the EPEAT rating system.

“Ricoh has developed environmentally friendly products while promoting energy conservation, production of smaller and lighter products, resource circulation, and a reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive substances. Ricoh India is very proud that we are able to lead the way to new heights, more reliable levels of environmental excellence. We will continue to pursue economic, social, and environmental value so as to generate technological and business model innovations that make a difference.”Said Ricoh india, CEO & managing Director,Manoj Kumar.

EPEAT makes it convenient for consumers to take green purchasing decisions as it rates products on a lifecycle basis. To be added to the EPEAT registry, an imaging device must meet at least 33 required environmental performance criteria.

EPEAT ratings help companies, governments and consumers around the world compare and purchase greener devices, resulting in significant environmental benefits.

Manufacturers must register their products in EPEAT on a country-by-country basis to ensure all product and service criteria are supported and verified for local markets. EPEAT eliminates toxic substances, the use of recycled and recyclable materials, product design for recycling, product longevity, energy efficiency, corporate performance and packaging attributes. It also requires manufacturers to assume responsibility for collection and responsible recycling of all registered devices.

Sarah O’Brien, Director of Global Stakeholder Engagement, Green Electronics Council, the non-profit group that manages the EPEAT system said, “As the first to register Imaging products in India, Ricoh is a pioneer in voluntary performance ratings, and we congratulate them for this significant environmental and business accomplishment. These EPEAT registrations demonstrate Ricoh’s desire to take proactive steps in meeting its customers’ environmental demands.”

She also added, “The organisation is working closely with MAIT, CII and other organisations for creating the awareness among the manufacturers. It is also planning to rope in small and mid sized products manufactures.”

She further added, “EPEAT rated electronic products are recognized worldwide for their high levels of environmental performance; by meeting the system’s challenging criteria Ricoh India will make it easier for their customers to reduce their own environmental impact.”

In its endeavor to reduce electronic waste, Ricoh India calls for its customers to avail the free ‘take-back service’ for end-of-life machines and toner cartridges, so as to recycle it in an environmentally sound manner.