Xerox recognised for global sustainable business practices

Xerox, distributed in 24 African countries by Bytes Document Solutions, has received multiple honours distinguishing its economic, environmental and social investment performance.

For the second consecutive year, Xerox has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America. In addition, the company was picked by an independent research firm, KLD, which identifies companies that meet globally-recognised standards for corporate responsibility.

"Sustainable development is a proven catalyst for Xerox innovation," says Anne M Mulcahy, Xerox chairman and CEO. "Repeated recognition by independent groups affirms both the economic and social value of our long-standing commitment to corporate sustainability."

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) track the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Admission into the DJSI family is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices.

Companies selected for inclusion on KLD indices must meet specific environmental, social and governance performance standards. Each of KLD's domestic and global indexes is governed by distinct rules and policies, so a company may be a member of one or several KLD indexes.

Xerox was named to the Domini 400 Social Index, KLD Catholic Values 400 Index, KLD Broad Market Social Index, KLD Large Cap Social Index, KLD Large-Mid Cap Social Index, KLD Global Sustainability Index, and KLD North America Sustainability Index.

In March 2008, Xerox was named for the first time to the FTSE4Good Index Series.

Xerox's environmental leadership goes far beyond reducing its own environmental footprint. The company helps its customers become greener as well. For example:

* In March 2008, Xerox developed and launched the industry's first Sustainability Calculator. For Northrop Grumman, the calculator was able to show one sector where it saved 27% in energy usage, 26% in greenhouse gas emissions and 33% in solid waste.
* Xerox helped Dow Chemical save about $100 million on desktop printing over a five-year period. Xerox helped Dow by consolidating printing devices from 16 000 to 5 000 company-wide. Not only is Dow saving paper, but it is estimated that the company will save 20% to 30% on its printing each year - with a much smaller environmental footprint.
* Any office can cut its environmental footprint in half by replacing standalone printers with fewer, multifunction devices - one device that can copy, print, fax and scan. If the standalone printers are not Energy Star-certified, energy savings jumps to 73%.
* Xerox provides its customers a large portfolio of sustainably sourced paper and has invented paper that is better for the environment. Xerox earned "chain of custody" certification from both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), confirming that Xerox paper products carrying the FSC or PEFC logo have been manufactured using raw materials harvested from certified sources, controlled wood sources or post-consumer reclaimed sources.

"In South Africa, we have similarly committed ourselves to sustainable business practices," says Rob Abraham, MD of Bytes Document Solutions, a company in the Bytes Technology Group, itself wholly owned by JSE-listed Altron. "We all need to play our part to help secure our future and that of our children. Xerox has shown that sustainability, innovation and profitability can all be achieved in balance."