Uxbridge, 9th October 2003 -- Building on its history of environmentally conscious manufacturing techniques and smart product design, Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) is undertaking new initiatives to reduce even further the environmental impact of the company's operations.
In its annual Environment, Health, and Safety Progress report, released today, the company documents a record of achievement dating back to 1991, including reductions in waste generated, increased recycling rates, more energy savings and improvements in workplace safety.
With the aim of extending the reach of the company's environmental practices, Xerox also is introducing two programmes. The first is to further reduce energy consumption and resultant greenhouse gas emissions, and the second is to set new mandates for sustainable forest management practices among its paper suppliers.
"In 2002, Xerox continued to make important progress toward the key goals embodied in our strategy of making Œwaste-free products in waste-free factories to help our customers achieve waste-free workplaces,¹ " said Jack Azar, vice president, Xerox Environment, Health and Safety. "We consider these programmes central to the way Xerox does business, and we continue to push ourselves to reach new levels of success."
Energy management is already a priority at Xerox. From 1996 to 2002, for instance, the company reduced energy consumption 27 percent at its largest manufacturing complex, in Webster, N.Y. And, recognising that it takes more energy to make a new part than to reuse a part, Xerox designs all of its products to be remanufacturable. The company estimates that by reusing parts, in 2002 alone it saved 14 million therms of energy -- enough to light more than 320,000 U.S. homes for a year. In addition, Xerox has a comprehensive programme to reduce the energy used by its printing and copying systems, through features such as automatic power-saver modes.
Xerox now is seeking to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global climate change, which are associated with energy consumption in all operations. While Xerox¹s efforts to date have been applied at local levels, this year Xerox is developing a formal, company-wide methodology to measure greenhouse gas emissions and establish a baseline inventory worldwide. Then, in 2004, Xerox will set corporate targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the next decade.
Xerox also recently joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency¹s "Climate Leaders" and The Business Roundtable¹s "Climate RESOLVE" programmes. Both are voluntary initiatives to help companies develop long-term climate change strategies and reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions.
Also, as one of the largest providers of cut-sheet paper, Xerox recognises its obligation to buy paper only from suppliers who wisely manage forest resources. In 2000, Xerox signalled its intent to source paper from suppliers committed to sustainable forest management. This summer, Xerox notified suppliers that they are expected to meet stringent requirements that cover all aspects of papermaking, from forest management to the production of finished goods. The aim is to protect the health and integrity of forest ecosystems, conserve biological diversity and soil and water resources, and safeguard forest areas of significant ecological or cultural importance. The standard applies worldwide.
2002 Highlights
Xerox continues to deliver more energy savings and higher reuse-and-recycle rates in factories and products as well as improvements in employee safety. Among the successes detailed in the company's 2003 Progress Report, Xerox:
- Prevented 161 million pounds of materials from entering landfills through reuse and recycling of Xerox equipment and supplies, such as print/copy cartridges. Since the remanufacturing programme began in 1991, Xerox has kept more than 1.4 billion pounds from landfill, and its programme has given new life to the equivalent of more than 2 million copiers, printers and multifunction systems enough material to fill the Empire State Building more than three times. The programme saves Xerox several hundred million dollars each year.
- Enabled energy savings of 1.5 million megawatt hours through reuse of parts and the sale of ENERGY STAR® products. Every eligible product that Xerox introduced in 2002 met ENERGY STAR and Canada's Environmental Choice EcoLogo criteria.
- Maintained workplace injury levels well below industry standards. The company initiated a Zero Injury programme in 1997. Since then, it has achieved a 50 percent reduction in its total recordable injury rate and has cut its "days away from work" case rate by 47 percent. Musculoskeletal injury rates in U.S. operations have fallen 40 percent from 1992 to 2002 because of the company's focus on ergonomics.
- Examined and, where possible, modified manufacturing processes to cut air emissions, non-hazardous and hazardous waste, and water and energy use. For instance, non-hazardous waste recycling rose from 56 percent in 1991 to 92 percent in 2002. And since 1999, 94 percent or more of all hazardous waste generated by Xerox worldwide has been beneficially managed through treatment, recycling or use as a fuel.
Environment and safety initiatives are a fundamental component of Xerox¹s corporate responsibility and citizenship efforts, which include philanthropic and community support, minority and women-owned supplier programmes, diversity and employee support, and business ethics and corporate governance initiatives.
The full 2003 Environment, Health and Safety Progress Report is available at: www.xerox.com/environment.
About Xerox Europe
Xerox Europe, the European operations of Xerox Corporation, markets a comprehensive range of Xerox products, solutions and services, as well as associated supplies and software. Its offerings are focused on three main areas: offices from small to large, production print and graphic arts environments, and services that include consulting, systems design and management, and document outsourcing.
Xerox Europe also has manufacturing and logistics operations in Ireland, the UK and Holland and a research and development facility (Xerox Research Centre Europe) in Grenoble, France. For more information, visit www.xerox.com
Xerox®, The Document Company® and the digital X® are trademarks of Xerox Corporation. All non-Xerox brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Media Contacts:
Kevin Perlmutter, Xerox Europe, Tel: +44 (0) 1895 845 219
Email: kevin.perlmutter@gbr.xerox.com
Eleri Roberts, Kinross + Render on behalf of Xerox, Tel: +44 (0) 207 5923100
Email: er@kinrossrender.com