Some Xerox people found a way to make "non-conforming" toners operate properly so they wouldn't have to be sent to landfill. Other employees ensured Xerox facilities met elite U.S. EPA performance standards. And still others devised a process that reduced the amount of chemicals needed to clean drains in a key manufacturing area.

These enterprising efforts are among the 14 projects that Xerox is recognizing this year under its 2006 "Earth Awards" program, which honors employee teams throughout the world who have come up with great ideas to help protect the environment and improve the performance of the company’s operations.

The 14 teams have demonstrated once again that what is good for the environment is also good for business. In total, their projects saved Xerox $26 million, eliminated more than 40 million pounds of waste, and reduced energy consumption by more than 419,000 kilowatt hours.

"Every team nominated for an Earth Award should be very proud of their accomplishments, and we all take pride in their daily efforts to make a difference," says Patricia Calkins, vice president, Xerox Environment, Health and Safety. "Their innovation has truly made a positive impact to reduce costs, conserve our natural resources, and demonstrate value to customers and shareholders."

Since the inception of Earth Day in 1970 – celebrated on April 22 – Xerox and its employees have joined together on projects to make the world a better place. The Xerox Earth Awards program began in 1990; since that time, Earth Award teams have saved Xerox more than $265 million.

This year, the 14 award-winning teams were selected out of 43 worldwide nominations – a 40 percent increase from 2005. The teams were located in Dundalk, Ireland; Rampur, India; Mitcheldean, England; Toronto, Canada; Webster, N.Y.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Venray, Netherlands.

Here are a few examples of the winning projects in 2006 and how they are making a positive impact on Xerox and the environment:

• Teams in India re-engineered key parts and processes to improve toner manufacturing processes, leading to less waste going to landfills, lower dust levels, and more productivity.
  
• A team in Webster, N.Y., optimized the Xerox iGen3™ digital press' final testing and tuning process so that less paper needs to be used.
  
• Another Webster team developed new waste reduction, parts/material reuse, and recycling processes for xerographic, fuser, developer, and toner dispenser modules returned from a family of multifunction products. They are reducing annual waste by 1.5 million pounds.
  
• A Venray, Netherlands, team has ensured Xerox systems comply with a new European Union recycling directive, called WEEE. Due to the team’s effort, Xerox fully complies with the directive and national legislation for those countries where legislation has come into force.

In line with the core values Xerox has followed since its inception, the company is committed to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of its employees, customers and neighbors. The company has received major environmental awards worldwide, and it has pioneered conservation and protective environmental policies well in advance of governmental regulations.

For more information on Xerox's environmental policies and programs, visit www.xerox.com/environment.