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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
5.06.2005 ET
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Xerox Pledges to Trim Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Worldwide Operations by 10 Percent by 2012
Aggressive goal, part of EPA's Climate Leaders program, ''is the right thing for Xerox to do''
(CSRwire) STAMFORD, CT - Consistent with its long-standing record of
environmental stewardship, Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) has pledged to
cut greenhouse gas emissions from its worldwide operations by 10 percent
from the baseline year 2002 to the end of 2012.
This aggressive voluntary reduction target is aligned with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program and The Business
Roundtable's Climate RESOLVE program, which Xerox joined in 2003. And it
complements the company's ongoing environmental programs, which include
products designed for energy efficiency and innovative remanufacturing and
recycling practices.
"While the absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be a
challenge - requiring a 30 percent or more improvement in energy
efficiency compared with 2002 levels - it is the right thing for Xerox to
do," said Anne M. Mulcahy, Xerox chairman and chief executive officer. "As
energy and fuel costs rise, consciously working to further control Xerox's
energy-related costs is environmentally responsible and financially
smart."
Xerox's greenhouse gas emissions - gaseous compounds in the atmosphere
that trigger global climate change - result from use of fossil fuels and
purchased electricity for power. About three-quarters of Xerox's total
comes from its U.S. operations. The company projects it could save or
avoid spending millions of dollars annually by cutting its use of fossil
fuel and electricity.
The 10-percent-reduction goal requires Xerox to cut annual emissions from
these sources below its 2002 baseline, even as the company grows. In
effect, by 2012 Xerox will have to reduce annual emissions by an estimated
100,000 metric tons - or about 30 percent - to achieve the 10 percent
target. This reduction will position Xerox to meet future greenhouse gas
reduction mandates, including those in countries that have ratified the
Kyoto protocol, the international treaty that calls for emission
reductions in signatory nations.
Using Less Power
Xerox already has a history of energy-saving initiatives, including
installing high-efficiency lighting, synchronizing power use with
operations schedules, and even using cold winter temperatures to chill
water for manufacturing. But meeting the new targets will take more
reductions. Among the areas targeted: new technology and improved process
designs to make existing processes more efficient, advanced technologies
that use less energy, expanded use of current energy-efficient
technologies, and alternative energy sources.
In addition to reducing emissions from its physical facilities and
operations, Xerox has consistently worked to engineer environmentally
friendly printers, copiers and other systems and to develop practices that
cut greenhouse gas production, said Patricia A. Calkins, Xerox vice
president for Environment, Health and Safety.
While the Climate Leaders program doesn't measure these savings, "they
nonetheless substantially reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from Xerox's
operations and those of its customers," said Calkins, who was in
Washington, D.C., today to outline Xerox's emissions targets at an EPA
Climate Leaders meeting.
Environmental Stewardship
Xerox has incorporated energy-efficiency criteria throughout the lifecycle
of its products. For example, Xerox products introduced in 2003 used up to
50 percent less energy compared with similar 1992 products, and the company
estimates that energy-efficient features in its copiers and printers in
2003 enabled customers to avoid emitting an estimated 563,000 metric tons
of greenhouse gas. In 2003, 97 percent of Xerox eligible product
offerings qualified for the EPA's ENERGY STAR® label or Canada's
Environmental Choice EcoLogo, two widely recognized certifications for
product environmental performance.
From a practices perspective, all Xerox-designed products are developed
with remanufacturing and reuse in mind. As a result, equipment returned
to Xerox at end of life can be remanufactured - rebuilt - to as-new
performance specifications. The environmental benefit is significant:
Reusing parts requires less energy and fewer raw materials than
manufacturing brand-new parts. The company estimates that in 2003, this
practice prevented emission of 70,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.
Organizations that join with the EPA as Climate Leaders agree to report
all on-site emissions of greenhouse gases and emissions related to
electricity they purchase.
Xerox is committed to the protection of the environment and the health and
safety of its employees, customers and neighbors. The company has received
major environmental awards worldwide, and it has been a leader in
implementing conservation measures and environmentally friendly policies.
Customer Contact:
For more information on Xerox environmental programs, visit www.xerox.com/environment.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on Xerox, visit www.xerox.com/csr or www.xerox.com/news.
XEROX® is a trademark of XEROX CORPORATION.
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