Xerox claims to have already met its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 18 per cent by 2012.

As a result, the company is upping its goal to a 25 per cent decrease by 2012.

Xerox said that its reduction initiative prevented the emission of 87,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2006, the equivalent of taking more than 18,000 cars off the road, as well as saving the company $18m.

"Xerox ranked sustainability high on its list of priorities long before it was popular to do so, and led the industry in ways to reduce waste and conserve energy," said Patricia Calkins, vice president of environment, health and safety at Xerox.

"This deep knowledge, along with our well-defined processes, contributed to our success in exceeding reduction targets six years ahead of our goal."

The results were validated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and fulfil Xerox's commitments for participation in the EPA Climate Leaders programme.

Xerox joined the Climate Leaders initiative in 2003, committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent from the baseline year of 2002.

Xerox found that its emissions were nearly all associated with indirect emissions from purchased electricity and steam, direct emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels like natural gas and burning gasoline and diesel fuels from vehicles.

The company set out plans for a 24 per cent reduction in emissions from the use of company vehicles, 27 per cent from natural gas, and 13 per cent from electricity use.

Xerox admitted that its biggest single energy use is producing supplies such as toner. The company is designing products to use its new EA toner, which uses 25 per cent less energy than traditional toner.