Xerox Corporation (corporate Social Responsibility)

XEROX CORPORATION

(Corporate Social Responsibility)

1. Introduction – Xerox company profile

Xerox Corporation is the world’s leading document management company. The company is manufacturing and selling printers, digital printing presses and systems, photo copiers and related supplies. Xerox started to expand rapidly between 1960 and 1970. In the mid 1980’s Apple decided to buy Xerox but the deal finally did not happen. Xerox sued Apple for stealing and using its graphical user interface on the Macintosh computers but the case was dismissed. In the 1990’s Xerox recovered and continued to grow by selling high quality products and became a $16 billion market leader digital company by now. (xerox.com, 2007)1

2. Social Responsibility

Joseph McGuire, in 1963, stated that “social responsibilities supposes that the corporation has not only economic and legal obligations, but also certain responsibilities to society” [p. 144]. It means that Xerox as a manufacturer, “plays an important role in influencing the sustainability of our environment”. (xerox.com, 2007)2

Types of social responsibilities:

- Economic responsibilities: produce goods and services

that society wants,

- Legal responsibilities: laws and regulations under business

is expected to operate,

- Ethical responsibilities: responsibilities expected by society,

- Discretionary responsibilities: voluntary responsibilities.

(University of Utah, 2007)

The social responsibilities of Xerox investigated in this report are legal and discretionary responsibilities. Xerox has achieved high level of social responsibilities in recycling, creating waste-free products and improving environment with partners, suppliers and customers. Products have to meet certain legal requirements and also Xerox voluntarily makes extra effort to develop new environmentally friendly processes and products.

(Xerox.com, 2007)2

3. How Xerox has achieved high level of Social Responsibility

Every manufacturer has to meet environmental friendly government policies (legal responsibilities). Xerox has standards as well to keep the sustainability of natural resources and on their official website they state: “Delivering environmental results beyond what is expected or required by law” (xerox.com, 2007)3. As a result of their Performance Track program, the company decreased energy and water consumption, increased waste-recycling and using less hazardous materials. By 2007, Xerox and partners have collectively reduced their water usage by 1.3 billion gallons and their generation of solid waste by 970,000 tons. They increased their use of recycled materials by 77,000 tons, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 67,000 tons. (xerox.com, 2007)3

Xerox is also trying to persuade suppliers and customers to play part in their environmental friendly policies. They expect suppliers to meet their strict regulations when delivering materials for them. Xerox gives opportunities to their customers to improve their business environment. Xerox consultants investigate the