Xerox Corporation has brought a deeper shade of green to its environmental sustainability efforts at drupa 2008, the world’s premier printing event. 

The company’s sweeping initiatives included a stand that was designed, constructed and staged in a sustainable way, and a range of offerings to help Xerox customers go green.

These include a broad focus on products, services and applications that are eco-friendly, and new educational materials and training sessions on sustainability.   

“At Xerox, we take a three-pronged approach to sustainability,” said Chris Govier, general manager - Production Systems Group Xerox Middle East and Africa. 

“First, reducing our own environmental footprint throughout our operations has formed the basis of the way we have run the company for decades. Second, it’s about working with suppliers to help reduce their environmental footprint. And third, the most compelling area is supporting our graphic communications customers to respond to their customers’ growing demand for green printing by introducing and educating print providers to digital opportunities.”

Green stand

All three prongs were represented in the Xerox stand, beginning with the stand itself.  Xerox has enhanced its events marketing and trade show practices with a more environmentally sensitive approach to materials, energy usage at the exhibit and its carbon footprint in planning and staging its participation. 

The 3,500-sq m stand was built almost exclusively from recycled or reusable materials and components. The two-story exhibit structure was assembled using reused steel formed beams, and the sheet materials in the walls and displays use recycled board and sustainable forest timber.

Xerox plans to reuse a lot of the structure at future events and to recycle most of the remaining materials, reducing waste and environmental impact.

Energy-efficient overhead lighting and video screens use 40 percent less power and generate 60 percent less heat than more conventional alternatives. To minimize its carbon footprint, Xerox sourced builders, materials and products locally, and used a virtual platform for planning and designing the stand, reducing air travel by more than 170 flights. 

Many of the Xerox products on display at drupa were environmentally sustainable. 

'More than 80 per cent by weight, of the waste generated by the Xerox iGen3® 110 Digital Production Press, including consumables (dry ink) can be returned, reused or recycled.  More than 97 percent of the components in the iGen3 press have been designed to support multiple lifetimes and minimize waste,' Govier said.

Many other Xerox products in the stand offered green qualities such as two-sided printing to reduce paper consumption and use of non-toxic toners. 

At drupa, Xerox has a number of resources for educating customers about sustainability. 
In the stand, daily seminars were conducted about “Greener Ways of Working with You and Your Documents,” and an area is dedicated to environmental communication, showcasing key milestones in sustainable development.-TradeArabia News Service