RICOH Eco Business Development Center recognised for maintaining a rich 2.2-hectare biodiverse green space

12 Mar 2024

TOKYO, March 4, 2024 – Ricoh's Eco Business Development Center in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, has been certified an 'Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure' (OECM) by the Ministry of Environment, Japan. The term 'OECM' describes 'a geographic site that is not within a protected area and delivers long-term biodiversity conservation under equitable governance and management'.

This marks the second award for Ricoh, following the certification of 'Ricoh Ena Forest', located in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in 2023, and further evidences the company's commitment towards a "nature positive" and "zero deforestation" society by preventing the loss of biodiversity and supporting recovery.

This latest certification recognises Ricoh for maintaining an environment suitable for insect habitats within the Ricoh Eco Business Development Center premises with trees such as cypress, Chinese cork oak, and cherry, bamboo groves, grasslands, and regulating ponds, providing a home for a distinctive ecosystem and a wide variety of species including butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, and cicadas. In particular, 33 species of butterflies have been confirmed, including Parnassius citrinarius, damselfly, and Neope goschkevitschii.

The OECM certification system was launched in 2023 and is based on the G7 2030 Nature Compact established at the G7 Cornwall Summit in June 2021, stipulating that G7 nations should lead by example, conserving or protecting at least 30% of their land and coastal and marine areas by 2030 (30by30).

The Ricoh Group has been participating in 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity since its establishment in Japan in April 2022. It continues to actively engage by working to understand biodiversity risks and reduce the environmental impact of its business activities through collaboration with various stakeholders while maintaining and improving the Earth's regenerative capacity.