Started in 2005 by Corporate Knights Inc. of Canada, the top 100 corporations in the world are selected from more than 1,800 large corporations in all business sectors based on research and analysis of data provided by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors Inc. in USA.

The 2008 Global 100 was announced on at the Annual General Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland. The companies selected for the Global 100 were analyzed in detail, compared to their industry peers, and evaluated as the global corporations with the best-developed abilities to effectively manage environmental, social and governance risks. Achievement in these three areas, which significantly influences their business results, was evaluated as a key indicator of management quality and long-term financial performance.

Among the world's leading corporations, Ricoh's aggressive environmental conservation activities along with its long-term vision extending to 2050, was highly regarded. While the rigorous selection process caused more than one third of the Global 100 corporations to be replaced between 2007 and 2008, Ricoh has the honor of making the list four consecutive years.