Pioneering a Circular Economy

A circular economy is a way of using resources more efficiently and reducing waste. It has positive impacts on the environment, the economy, and society. For example, it helps conserve natural resources, lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, save costs for manufacturers and customers, create jobs and opportunities, and improve health and well-being. A circular economy also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.

Xerox follows a Design for Sustainability approach that covers the four stages of a circular economy: design, manufacturing, consumption, and end-of-life management. We design our products with the environment in mind, with careful selection of raw materials, reused and recycled content, and safety, and meeting high standards of ecolabels such as ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, and Blue Angel. We reuse and remanufacture our equipment and supplies and manage our operations with environmental best practices. We help our customers use our products more efficiently and responsibly, with features such as energy saving, responsible printing, and remote service. Plus, we offer a global collection and reuse/recycling program for products at the end of their life, giving them a second life and reducing the need for new materials.

We consider the full life cycle of our products, from raw materials to the manufacturing, delivery, use, maintenance, and end-of-life. We set and monitor product goals in each of these phases during the development process. We apply Design for Sustainability criteria to our equipment, supplies, and packaging, to meet or exceed the market and regulatory requirements, and minimize the environmental footprint. We aim to have 100% of our eligible new products meet stringent ecolabels, such as ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, and Blue Angel, where and when applicable, and to assess the life cycle impacts of each product.

We use post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic content in our devices and toner cartridges where possible, with up to 52% PCR plastic in newer products. We also reuse parts from returned devices in our new and remanufactured products. Up to 95% by weight of returned devices can be reused this way. Returned toner cartridges are remanufactured, using on average 90% reclaimed components. All the reused parts meet the same quality, reliability, and performance standards as newly manufactured parts.

Internal studies have estimated remanufactured products save an estimated CO2e savings of at least 90% during the raw material and manufacturing stages of the device lifecycle. As much as 1.3 tons of CO2 emissions vs. a new build device, the equivalent of 146 gallons of gasoline saved or C02 captured by 21 tree seedlings growing for 10 years, is realized over a five-year product lifecycle. ⁽⁴⁾

Xerox manufacturing facilities are certified to ISO 14001 environmental management standard and are committed to lower water and energy use by 20% and 25% respectively by 2030 and 2025 (from 2020 and 2016 baselines). Some sites also use renewable energy sources. More than 10 sites and over 35 partners globally perform remanufacturing and repair activities, which extend the life of materials and parts and minimize the need for new resources.

Xerox products have features that optimize energy consumption, such as print driver settings for 2-sided printing, multiple-images per page, and draft modes, and low power and sleep modes when idle. You can also print more responsibly by using best practices, such as pull printing. Xerox provides analytics and dashboards to show the environmental impact of your printing, and options to plant trees or buy carbon offsets to balance paper use.

Find out more

Xerox devices can be repaired remotely, with the help of CareAR, a live visual assistance and guidance innovation that allows remote troubleshooting and resolution of issues. Other advanced customer service repair programs are available for certain products. Proactive maintenance and remote service reduce the need for on-site service visits, which avoids carbon emissions. In one year, CareAR avoided 57,000 site visits and 594,800 Kg of carbon emissions.

Xerox has takeback and return programs for end-of-life equipment and spent supplies in multiple geographies. Learn more about equipment recycling options or donating Xerox devices.

Learn about our Green World Alliance supplies collection and reuse/recycling program, to see how you can return used supply items.

Xerox strives to reuse as much as possible from returned equipment and supply items. A returned item may be refurbished entirely or remanufactured with some parts or components replaced. If the item is beyond repair, usable parts and components are salvaged for reuse or spare parts. The remaining portions are recycled responsibly. Only as a last resort, materials that cannot be recycled are processed as waste energy. In 2022, 27.9 thousand metric tons of equipment and parts waste was diverted from landfill, not including EU WEEE equipment.

You can support the circular economy by choosing products with ecolabels, opting for refurbished or remanufactured products, utilizing devices efficiently, maintaining them properly, and returning used consumables and equipment at end of their first life.

For additional information about environmental sustainability at Xerox, see our corporate social responsibility report, goals, and progress summary.