Environmental Leader

Xerox Corp. reports greenhouse gas emissions fell 20 percent from 2002 to 2008, and says it will deliver a 25 percent reduction in total GHG emissions by 2012 from a 2002 baseline, according to the company’s 2009 Report on Global Citizenship (PDF).

Xerox’s environmental sustainability goals (PDF) center on climate protection, preserving biodiversity and the world’s forests, preserving clean water and air, and preventing and managing waste.

Xerox’s equipment and supplies returns and recycling programs diverted 106 million pounds of waste from landfills, bringing total landfill avoidance to 2.2 billion pounds since 1991. The company achieved an internal recycle rate of 92 percent in 2008. To support a “zero waste to landfill” goal for its company-wide operations, it is developing a waste-free goal in 2009.

Xerox is on track to reduce the solid waste sent to landfills from its largest warehouses by 25 percent by 2012. Of the 41,000 metric tons of e-waste collected in 2008, Xerox was able to reuse or recycle 98 percent. In 2008, 85 percent of non-hazardous solid waste was reused or recycled, compared with 81 percent in 2007.

In May 2009, Xerox launched its ColorQube multifunction printer, which uses the company’s proprietary solid ink technology. Its cartridge-free design generates 90 percent less office supplies waste than comparable laser devices and reduces the impact of manufacturing and transportation on the environment.

In 2008, 80 percent of Xerox’s eligible new products met or exceeded the international Energy Star standard. The company’s goal is to deliver Energy Star qualified equipment for 90 percent or more of eligible new products launched by 2010.

The company launched the Xerox Sustainability Calculator in 2008, aimed at helping customers identify opportunities to reduce lifecycle energy use, solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions of office printing activities.

Xerox also works with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to support the development of a sustainable paper cycle. To date, more than 90 percent of Xerox paper by volume met the company’s requirements; the goal is 100 percent by volume. Xerox also reduces the environmental impact of its papers by offering paper with 20 percent to 100 percent post-consumer recycled content.

In 2008, Xerox maintained chain of custody certification as planned, expanding the portfolio of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified papers it offers to customers.

Xerox also continued its 3-year $1 million partnership with The Nature Conservancy that supports conservation work aimed at the development of a sustainable paper cycle.

Xerox is working to eliminate the use of toxic materials throughout the supply chain with strict internal standards that govern the use of chemicals in its operations and products. The company has re-engineered or substituted processes to significantly reduce the use of toxics and heavy metals. In 2008, worldwide hazardous waste volume decreased 10 percent from 2007 and 96 percent was beneficially managed, according to the report.

Since 1991, Xerox’s manufacturing operations have reduced emissions of particulate and toxics into the air by 94 percent. The company’s goal is to achieve a zero toxic footprint.

The report cites that Xerox facilities released 43 metric tons of regulated chemicals and particulates into the air in 2008, a 2 percent increase from 2007. The company attributes the increase to production and process inefficiencies in a single plant that have since been corrected.

In 2008, water consumption was down by 15 percent from 2007 due to building consolidations, production decreases, and equipment decommissioning. In 2008, energy consumption increased by 2 percent from 2007 but was down 16 percent from 2002, according to the report.