Xerox to offset customer paper footprints through reforestation platform

Printing services company Xerox is offering a "you print one, we'll plant one" offer to consumers, to ensure that individual paper usage is covered by planting new trees across numerous reforestation projects.


Xerox has partnered with technology platform PrintReleaf to build on a managed print services contract that enables customers and companies to plant trees in managed forestry projects. The PrintReleaf platform calculates the forest impact of a company or individual’s paper consumption and reforests the equivalent “paper footprint” in areas including Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Madagascar.

“From our Green World Alliance program to the Xerox Print Awareness Tool, we have long been known for our dedication to sustainability,” Xerox’s vice president of environment, health, safety and sustainability Wendi Latko said.

“With PrintReleaf, now we’re able to take that commitment one step further by empowering our MPS customers with an industry certified service that will accelerate and promote their efforts as stewards of the environment.”

Latko previous spoke to edie to outline how Xerox intends to have a verified science-based target in place by the end of the year. Xerox committed to the Science-Based Targets Initiative before the Paris Agreement was even agreed or ratified. A 20% carbon goal has since been surpassed, but the separation of the company into two entities meant that much of the data had to be recalibrated.

In June 2016, Xerox announced that it had separated into two publicly traded companies. The former “business process outsourcing” arm of the company was named Condeunt, while the more energy-intensive technology arm remained as the Xerox Corporation.

Deforestation risks  

However, Xerox’s sustainability strategy has little information on deforestation links, so PrintReleaf’s ability to record, track and monitor the new offering will provide some assurances in this area.

“Xerox’s roots in sustainability make it an ideal partner for us in our continued work towards a more sustainable planet,” PrintReleaf’s founder Jordan Darragh said. “This partnership holds great potential as we expand our network of PrintReleaf users and reach new reforestation goals.”

The intervention is timely. CDP warns that the business community is risking up to $941bn on commodities linked to deforestation, but the vast majority of corporates are reportedly failing to take action.

Matt Mace

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