Ricoh partners with PrintReleaf carbon offset platform

Ricoh has announced a new partnership in Australia with PrintReleaf, an industry sustainability solution provider, delivered by wholesale solution supplier Dynamic Software Solutions (DSS).

PrintReleaf is a platform that is claimed to automatically convert an organisation’s paper footprint into new trees. As paper is consumed in printers, either an equivalent volume of trees (biomass) is planted in targeted forests or the emissions associated with the paper consumption are offset through verified projects around the world.

Sul Koralege, Product Manager, Ricoh Australia said Ricoh is committed to sustainability, so it was a logical step to partner with DSS. He said the PrintReleaf platform makes it easy for businesses to track their forest impact or carbon footprint resulting from printing and ensure it is fully offset.

“PrintReleaf can be directly integrated into existing managed print service monitoring software, thus automating the collection of data,” Koralege said. “The platform’s cloud-based infrastructure and unique APIs allow customers to get involved without requiring any additional hardware or software in the printer fleet.

“PrintReleaf gathers the data and then reverse-calculates how many trees were required and how much carbon was emitted as a result of the paper being consumed.

“Trees are then automatically replanted at certified global reforestation projects of the customer’s choice. As an example, approximately 8333 A4 sheets of paper is equivalent to one standard tree while 117,647 sheets represents one metric tonne of CO₂.”

Based in Boulder, Colorado, PrintReleaf is currently being used by more than 40,000 organisations and has certified reforestation projects in a number of countries including Brazil, India, Ireland, Mexico and the United States.

“The entire process is completely automated with end-to-end integration from printers through to the planting of trees,” said Andrew Tsiorvas, General Manager, Dynamic Software Solutions. “The ecosystem is also verified by independent third-party verifiers.”

Tsiorvas said DSS recognised Ricoh’s green initiatives and commitment to sustainability.

“The company has an unwavering commitment to achieving a sustainable society through comprehensive environmental, social and governance initiatives, all of which align with DSS’s own green credentials as well as those of PrintReleaf,” Tsiorvas said.

Koralege said Australian organisations can reduce their environmental impact through the use of an automated sustainability program.

“PrintReleaf makes it easy for them to understand the impact of their printing and offset that impact to make a positive difference for the planet,” Koralege said. “Customers will receive a certificate for each biomass or carbon offset issued as well as annual and lifetime summaries which are continually updated.”

“We welcome our partnership with DSS and believe that PrintReleaf will provide our customers with genuine and concrete environmental benefits in the years ahead. It offers a highly reliable and practical system for sustainable printing and is a vehicle through which our customers can monitor and reduce their environmental impact.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Supatman