Ricoh Printer is the 3,000th product to be certified under Green Labeling Scheme.

Singapore, 2 Sept 2015 —Ricoh printer has become the 3,000th product to be certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS).

The company received a certificate of recognition at the National Museum on Wednesday.

The scheme, introduced in the 1990s, is administered by the non-governmental organisation, the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The green label helps customers to identify energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products, including electrical appliances, building materials and household products such as soap.

Products have to meet a set of criteria set by the SEC in order to be certified; and companies which wish to do so pay a fee that helps to fund the green label team's operations.

The Ricoh printer which was certified is the MP3554. According to Mr Adrian Lim, a spokesman for Ricoh, the printer uses about 60 per cent less power in energy saving mode compared to older models. "Engineers who see our products know they're 'green'. But you and me, we're not engineers. We want to know if it's 'green'; so the green label actually helps," he said.

The label is the only eco-certification mark in South-east Asia awarded to as many as 3,000 products. In the late 1990s, only 600 products were certified.

Mr Edwin Seah, executive director of SEC, said that the rise in numbers since then shows an increased consciousness about environmental sustainability among consumers and businesses. "Today's milestone is a testament that it is possible and makes business sense to integrate environmental conservation with commercial activities," he added.

To encourage more companies to apply for certification, the SEC plans to lower the cost for firms which certify more than five products from the middle of next year.

Source: The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/ricoh-printer-is-the-3000th-product-to-be-certified-under-green-labelling

About Ricoh

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing 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 2015, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,231 billion yen (approx. 18.5 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 specialized 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.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com/about/