Ricoh and ETRIA launch "Circular New," a manufacturing concept, turning resource circulation into competitive advantage

TOKYO, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Company, Ltd. and ETRIA CO., LTD. have announced "Circular New," a manufacturing concept that transforms products already used in the market into assets for future production, turning resource circulation into new product value and manufacturing competitiveness.  As the first application, the concept will be introduced to Ricoh's A3 black and white multifunction printers (MFPs), with localised production and launch scheduled in Japan and Europe in the first half of 2027.

• Reduces newly sourced material use from about 76% to as low as 21% with product carbon footprint expected to drop by up to 25%
• Delivers latest-generation models with consistent quality, functionality and warranty, while utilising components recovered from the market
• Strengthens supply chain resilience and manufacturing competitiveness through localised production

Compared with conventional centralised production at major manufacturing, localised circular production close to consumption markets is designed to reduce the proportion of newly sourced materials used from approximately 76% to as low as approximately 21%.^[1] Customers will receive the same latest-generation models, with consistent quality, functionality and warranty, regardless of the production method.

 Circular New integrates product planning, design, manufacturing, use, collection, and reuse into a single continuous loop, utilising products already in the market as assets to manufacture new products with added value. In addition to conventional centralised production, Ricoh and ETRIA will establish localised circular production in Japan and France to create a regional loop of resource and component reuse, further expanding circularity. Localised production can reduce the product carbon footprint by up to 25%^[2]. This reduction is achieved by lowering the use of newly sourced materials and shortening transportation distances, while establishing a resilient supply framework to ensure reliable product delivery amid geopolitical risks, logistics disruptions and resource price volatility. Centrally manufactured and locally produced products will be offered within the same product lineup, delivering consistent product value regardless of manufacturing method or location.

Ricoh and ETRIA have long worked together to reduce newly sourced material use by incorporating recycled materials, such as recycled plastics and steel. Looking toward future circularity, ETRIA integrates design principles from the planning and development stages, including sharing frames and components across generations and models, extending component lifespans and designing structures for simple disassembly and replacement. Building on this design foundation, Circular New combines digital insights into product and component conditions with advanced sorting and quality assurance technologies. This allows Ricoh and ETRIA to go beyond using recycled materials and instead recover and reuse resources and components from existing products directly in the latest-generation models.

With Circular New, Ricoh and ETRIA aim to establish Evolving Circularity—moving beyond reducing environmental impact to continuously channel recovered resources and components into next-generation product value while advancing manufacturing itself.

In its Mid-Term Management Strategy '26, announced in March 2026, Ricoh set a target of achieving a 30% engine market share for ETRIA by fiscal 2030. Circular New is one of the initiatives supporting this growth strategy, strengthening ETRIA's manufacturing competitiveness through circular product design and localised production.

Katsunori Nakata, executive corporate officer and president of RICOH Digital Products Unit, Ricoh Company, Ltd., and CEO of ETRIA, said, "Circular New directly challenges the assumption that manufactured products must follow a linear lifecycle. Guided by our principle of aligning ESG with business growth, the Ricoh Group aims to reduce newly sourced material use to 60% by 2030 and 12% by 2050. Through this localised circular production model, we are committed to demonstrating that resource circulation can drive both customer value and manufacturing competitiveness."

James Loginov, Director of ESG Governance at Ricoh Asia Pacific, said, "Customers and stakeholders increasingly expect sustainability to be measurable, not just promised. Circular New delivers on that. Cutting the proportion of newly sourced materials in a device from around 76% to as low as 21% is a significant, tangible result, and it comes without compromising the quality our customers rely on.

"Just as important to our customers is the fact that Circular New makes good business sense, building on the Comet Circle circular economy model that has guided Ricoh since 1994. Reusing materials reduces our dependence on new resources and helps create supply chains that are more resistant to sudden shocks and disruptions. Proof that responsible manufacturing practices and long-term growth can go hand in hand."

About Ricoh

Ricoh is a global integrator in workplace transformation, operating in approximately 200 countries and regions and headquartered in Tokyo. Supporting customers' value creation, Ricoh offers workplace services and solutions that empower organisations to work smarter through advanced technologies—including AI— together with long-standing expertise rooted in printing. Ricoh also operates commercial and industrial printing businesses and delivers new solutions leveraging inkjet technology. In the financial year ended March 2026, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,608 billion yen (approx. 16.4 billion USD).

For 90 years since our founding, Ricoh has upheld its mission and vision of empowering individuals to find Fulfilment through Work—and that commitment continues today. By understanding and transforming how people work, we unleash their potential and creativity to realise a sustainable future.

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com

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SOURCE Ricoh Asia Pacific Pte Ltd