Upcoming Events
New Green Certification Program and on-Product Logo for Publishers Unveiled Join us for this program at Book Expo on Thursday, May 27, 2010, 11:00AM - 12:00PM at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. For more information, visit their website.
The Book Industry Environmental Council (BIEC) green publisher certification program will be rolled out later this year. This certification, which will require third party verification of publishers’ environmental performance across 22 metrics of performance is a first for the publishing industry. The certification system is in the final stages of development and the BIEC is currently reviewing public comments of the proposed system. Learn more about the details.
GPI News
On March 11th, the Book Industry Environmental Council (BIEC), which is co-coordinated by GPI, held another meeting to discuss the three priority areas it has been working on for the past two years (tracking industry progress, establishing an industry-wide climate goal developing an eco label for publishers). The council also discussed it’s newly developed priority of reducing the industry’s return rate and keeping books out of landfills. Key updates from each committee are as follows:
Tracking: Sector specific surveys that will be sent to publishers, printers, paper manufacturers and retailers are nearly complete and will be sent out in the following months
Climate: Now that the BIEC has established industry-wide greenhouse gas emissions targets, the council is working to provide resources to help the industry reach the 2020 target of reducing emissions to 20% below 2006 levels. In the near future, theBIEC website will include a book industry green house gas calculator and sector specific guidance for reducing climate impacts.
Eco Labeling: After reviewing the feedback that was submitted during a public comment period, the eco labeling committee will submit a final proposal for the BIEC eco label, including final contenders for the label design, which would appear in books.
Returns and Landfills: The returns and landfills committee is in the process of establishing priorities, goals and objectives
The Newspaper Environmental Innovation Council (NEIC), which has been formed by GPI in partnership with Canopy, held its initial call on March 9. The Council will work together to create a vision and goals for reducing the social and environmental impacts of the newspaper industry modeled after the BIEC. For info, contact Shannon Binns at shannon@greenpressinitiative.org
GPI is finalizing a listing of overseas book papers to help publishers avoid Lacey Act violations and avoid papers that may include fiber sourced from Endangered Forests. The listing includes over 150 papers and uses red, yellow, and green ratings to indicate the risks for each paper.
Each week on Facebook and Twitter, we profile GPI member success stories. Please join and send us your eco publishing victories in production, marketing, and manufacturing, etc. Membership helps GPI to continue helping the industry make environmental improvements. You can see a list of members and join at www.greenpressinitiative.org/membership.htm For renewals, contact erin@greenpressinitiative.org
In The News
The work of the Environmental Paper Network and its member organizations, like GPI, have saved millions of acres of forest and hundreds of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gases. Streams, rivers and our air are cleaner. To fully understand the impacts and progress, you can view Turning the Page and the related video.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced in March that a 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009. This higher than expected recovery rate is good news for reducing deforestation, keeping paper out of landfill where it breaks down and releases methane gas, and helps with growing demand for recycled fiber in paper and other products. More here.
Wal-Mart reports that cost-savings, not public relations, are the real motivator for continued environmental initiatives within the company. Their plan is to reduce their carbon footprint by 150% over the next five years with the help of their suppliers. More here.
Got News? Let us know. We can help you get the word out through our newsletter, and other communications with industry professionals. Contact erin@greenpressinitiative.org
Tools & Resources
Paper Calculator v2.0
The Environmental Defense Fund’s Paper Calculator tool was recently updated. Check it out!
Updated Paper and Supplier Listings
Updated lists of environmentally responsible papers and printers that stock environmental grade papers are available at http://www.greenpressinitiative.org/action/suppliers.htm
Toolkit for publishers is available at:
http://www.greenpressinitiative.org/documents/BookPublisherToolkit.pdf
Toolkit for Printers is available at:
https://www.greenpressinitiative.org/documents/PrinterToolkit.pdf
Toolkit for Small Publishers
http://www.greenpressinitiative.org/documents/Small%20Pub%20Toolkit.pdf
This newsletter and the Green Press Initiative is made possible
through the support of the
Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund,
Giles and Elise Mead Foundation, Katz Family Foundation, Merck
Family Fund, Overbrook Foundation, Town Creek Foundation, Weeden
Foundation |
