Innovation to save Earth

Global warming increasingly threatens the world we live in. At current high emission rates, the release of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere will result in a 76cm rise in sea level and a 12^0 C increase in global temperatures by the next century, according to the Projected Global Warming Impacts report.

The dominant patterns of industrial production and consumption are devastating the environment, depleting resources and sending uncounted species into extinction.

Yet there is still hope and organisations across the globe are investing in innovation in an attempt to halt the destruction. Even one company reducing its emissions and saving energy has a role to play in solving the problem.

E-Agent, otherwise known as embrittling agent, is a special chemical ingredient created by Xerox to reduce the amount of energy needed to make certain printer toners. The agent has enabled an energy reduction of more than 22%, which will ultimately translate into a saving of more than 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity by 2008. That is enough power to light more than 24 000 households for a year.

These energy savings are also expected to prevent the release of more than 18 000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of saving the annual emissions from over 2 500 mid-sized cars.

The manufacturing of supplies, especially toner, is among the most energy-intensive activities in Xerox. Toner is "dry ink" powder that is fused onto paper to make laser prints and copies.

In the conventional toner manufacturing process, large particles of plastics, colourants and other additives are mechanically pulverised into small, relatively uniform toner particles. It takes about 50 toner particles to print only one full stop on this page.

The grinding process is the most energy-intensive step, consuming up to 40% of the total energy used for making toner. The "grinding" happens when toner particles are blown against each other at high speeds inside a chamber and the collisions cause the particles to split apart.

Making toner particles that are easier to grind saves energy. By adding the embrittling agent to the toner "recipe", particles are more likely to shatter upon contact and reach the desired particle size more quickly.

Emulsion Aggregation (EA) technology, patented by Xerox, is another way in which energy can be saved during toner production. Perfected over eight years, the process uses a controlled method to chemically grow toner particles from molecules up to particles of any desired size and shape. The process is more environmentally friendly since the toner particles are produced by non-mechanical means.

Xerox has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its worldwide operations by 10% over a 10-year period. Emissions result from using fossil fuels and buying electricity for power. To meet its target, the company is working to improve energy efficiency by 30% compared to 2002 levels, throughout its global operations.

Xerox`s pledge aligns with its long-standing commitment to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of its employees, customers and neighbours. The company has received major environmental awards worldwide, and it has pioneered conservation and protective environmental policies well in advance of governmental regulations.

* Bytes Document Solutions is the sole authorised distributor of Xerox products and solutions in 24 sub-Saharan African countries.