Xerox Holdings Corporation is an American corporation that sells print and digital document products and services in more than 160 countries. The company takes its responsibility towards the environment and society at large very seriously. In its latest CSR report, the company has briefed about its actions towards social and environmental development in the last financial year. Following are excerpts from Xerox Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2021.
1. Message from the CEO
John Visentin Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Xerox has said –
Xerox has a social responsibility to do what’s best not just for the company, but for people, the environment and society. Key parts of our corporate social responsibility strategy focus on how we can lessen our impact and our customers’ impact on the environment and help society—all while ensuring we govern ourselves in a manner that makes Xerox one of the most responsible companies in the world.
2. Xerox on Environmental Conservation
2.1 Reaching Net-Zero by 2040
Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. It has already affected many aspects of society and has the potential to cause even greater disruption, threatening populations, economies, food security, resources and more. Xerox has long believed that businesses play a critical role in protecting the health of the planet.
Given the urgency, the company has fast-tracked its net-zero goal by 10 years and established a new goal of 2040. Xerox plans to achieve net-zero emissions through projects that improve operational efficiency, create new technology innovations, and neutralize residual GHG emissions through carbon compensation mechanisms
Since establishing its first targets in 2003, Xerox has achieved a significant reduction in energy consumption and GHG emissions. Between its first baseline year of 2002 and 2016, the company eliminated 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 e).
2.2 Innovation for Sustainable Products and Services
Design for Sustainability has been a way of business for Xerox, recognizing that products have environmental, social and economic effects throughout their life cycle. With criteria for each phase of the corporation’s product design and delivery process, Design for Sustainability provides a process through which design teams must respond to each step before it can pass to the next phase.
2.3 Circular Economy
The first commercial product of Xerox in 1959, the Xerox 914, introduced electronics remanufacturing long before the term “circular economy” became popular. The company’s vision was to transform Xerox manufacturing, operations, offices and facilities into waste-free workplaces. It had this same vision for its clients’ workplaces: a world where electronics and supplies at the end of their useful life would come full circle to become raw materials for tomorrow’s technology.
In this model, quality and performance are not compromised, precious natural resources are conserved, and waste becomes obsolete. Six decades later, the company is continuing to demonstrate that a circular economy delivers environmental, economic and societal benefits.
2.4 Preserving Clean Air and Water
Xerox has significantly reduced manufacturing air emissions over the past 20 years. The company’s policy prohibits using ozone-depleting substances (ODS) as ingredients in the manufacturing processes for its products and finished products, including spare parts, accessories, consumables and packaging.
Xerox evaluates the release of materials used in our worldwide operations annually and reports to government agencies under national toxic chemical release reporting regulations. According to them, toxic chemical releases by the company has decreased by more than 13% in 2020 when compared to 2019 levels and were 57% lower than 2010 levels and 82% lower than 2007 levels.
As part of its commitment to conserving resources, Xerox monitors water consumption worldwide used in manufacturing, distribution, and research and development facilities. In 2020, the company’s worldwide water withdrawal for use in our manufacturing and research facilities was approximately 0.982 billion litres, a 52% reduction from the baseline year 2010.
2.5 Preventing and managing waste
Xerox has a mature program for reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated throughout the company. Historically, the manufacturing operations that generate significant quantities of hazardous waste have goals and objectives to eliminate and/or reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated.
Xerox has had waste reduction efforts in place for many years. The company reuses boxes, pallets and containers for parts delivery and capture and reprocess toner outside the acceptable size range during manufacturing. It also recycles returned equipment, and reuses totes for recycling scrap metal and paper. Globally, the company’s operations generated 21,100 metric tons of non-hazardous solid waste in 2020, a 29% decrease from 29,700 metric tons in 2019.
3. Xerox Philanthropy
The philanthropic investment strategy of Xerox delivers the greatest value to society possible for every dollar spent. In 2020, the company invested more than $2.3 million in the non-profit sector. Many non-profit organizations, colleges and universities received direct financial support in the form of strategic investments, matching gifts or community involvement activities by Xerox employees.
At its core, the company’s philanthropy efforts are focused on four strategic areas:
Strong vibrant communities: Xerox invests in communities where Xerox employees and clients live and work, strengthening ties with the stakeholders and embedding Xerox into the fabric of communities around the world.
Education and workforce preparedness: Xerox supports the role of education in society—colleges, universities, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs, and workforce development programs that prepare the next generation of leaders, inventors and scientists.
Science and technology: Xerox invests in scientific research and partnerships to serve the long-term strategic interests of the company and our world.
Disaster relief: Xerox provides aid to its employees and their neighbours in crises during natural disasters. It champions a variety of organizations that respond to natural disasters around the world. In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis shut down the world. The company’s disaster relief efforts included manufacturing and donating ventilators to hospitals in New York, California, and India. Based on recommendations from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it invested $40,000 globally to meet basic needs and help with food security. Canada Helps.org, Feeding America, European Foodbanks, and United Way Centraide each received $10,000.
3.1 Employee Volunteering
Xerox believes that a combination of financial and human resources can bring about greater change than either on its own. This philosophy is best represented by the Xerox Community Involvement Program (XCIP). This grassroots initiative backs the volunteer spirit of the company’s employees with funding support from Xerox. With this program, a Xerox employee may redeem $10 per volunteer hour, up to $500 per year, to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice.
Since the program began in 1974, thousands of Xerox employees have rolled up their sleeves and participated in projects that make their hometown a better place. In 2020, Xerox invested $220,310 in XCIP and employees led more than 154 projects worldwide. The Xerox Volunteer Policy enables paid time off to volunteer for registered non-profits, up to eight hours per employee per year. Employees committed to Xerox programs such as United Way, FIRST and its Science Consultant Program are given additional paid time off to participate and represent in the community.
Conclusion
The philanthropic and environment conservation efforts by Xerox shows the commitment it has towards its stakeholders. Its employee volunteer program is not only enriching to the society but is also thoughtful, reflecting its sincerity.
