Lexmark has announced it has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's (HRC) 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a U.S. benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. While this is Lexmark's 17th year being recognized in the U.S. by the HRC, this is the first year the HRC has named recipients of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

"Receiving the Equality 100 Award is a proud moment for Lexmark as we are again recognized for our record of CEI acknowledgments," said Tonya Jackson, senior vice president and chief people officer, Lexmark. "Lexmark is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where employees' voices are heard, adequately represented and respected."

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, senior director of workplace equality, Human Rights Campaign. "While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion."

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to more than 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

1. Non-discrimination policies across business entities
2. Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families
3. Supporting an inclusive culture
4. Corporate social responsibility

In other news, Lexmark has announced it has been named a Leader in the 2023 Sustainability Vendor Landscape report by global print and market insight research firm Quocirca. Lexmark was also a Leader in the Quocirca 2022 Sustainability Vendor Landscape.

The report highlights three significant advances for Lexmark in 2023:

1. Achieving CarbonNeutral manufacturer certification for its manufacturing plant in Mexico
2. Significantly increasing its use of renewable energy
3. Receiving validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

"Lexmark sets a remarkable standard in the industry with its ambitious carbon neutrality goals, clearly demonstrating commitment to not only minimizing its own energy consumption, but also empowering customers, partners and the wider industry to seize sustainability opportunities and overcome challenges," said Louella Fernandes, director, Quocirca.

The report also highlighted Lexmark's progress on sustainable product design and energy efficiency, including achieving a 26% energy consumption reduction from 2015 to the end of 2022, and a 43% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions between 2015 and 2022. Additionally, the Lexmark Cartridge Collection Program (LCCP), Lexmark Equipment Collection Program (LECP) and Lexmark Evergreen Remanufactured Hardware Program received high praise in the report.

Other Lexmark priorities and commitments noted by Quocirca included:

• Lexmark's commitment to reducing single-use packaging by 50% by 2025
• Achieving 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in Lexmark's product portfolio by 2025 (current progress at 40% average)
• Increasing PCR and reuse to 50% in cartridges and supplies by 2025
• Continuing a goal of 100% EPEAT and ENERGY STAR certification within the hardware portfolio

"Lexmark has an extensive track record of ecofriendly practices, and we are proud to be acknowledged once again by Quocirca as a sustainability leader in the industry," said John Gagel, chief sustainability officer, Lexmark. "Our commitment to the environment starts with the deliberate design of durable products and encompasses the services, solutions and programs that minimize paper usage, encourage efficient utilization and boost our customers' sustainability efforts."

The Quocirca Sustainability Vendor Landscape report analyzes sustainability in the broader print manufacturer ecosystem and provides an overview of the print industry's sustainability efforts, with a focus on accelerating net-zero corporate sustainability and enhancing product circularity for customers.