The Green Press Initiative - working with publishers, industry stakeholders and authors to create paper-use transformations that will conserve natural resources and preserve endangered forests.

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The Forest Stewardship Council is the only certification system that requires a consensus solution when conflicts arise between logging companies and indigenous communities.

Paper accounts for nearly 40% of the waste stream.

More than 140 publishers, including many of the world's largest, have strong environmental policies.

On average, it is estimated that the U.S. book industry uses less than 10% recycled fiber for its paper.

On average, it is estimated that the U.S. newsprint sector has a 35% recycled fiber use-rate.

Globally, over 40% of the industrial wood harvest is used to make paper.

Deforestation accounts for 25% of human caused C02 emissions.

When the goals set forth in the Book Industry Treatise on Responsible paper use are realized over 5 million trees will be preserved each year.

In 2006, an Opinion Research Corporation poll revealed that 80% of readers are willing to pay more for books printed on recycled and environmentally responsible paper.

Over the course of its lifecycle, postconsumer recycled fiber requires 30-40% less energy than virgin fiber.

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Book Industry Environmental Council

The Book Industry Environmental Council (BIEC) consists of representatives from a broad group of companies and organization that play a role in shaping the future of the U.S. book industry. The council includes representatives from publishers, printers, paper manufacturers and suppliers, retailers and relevant non-profit organizations. A full list of participants is available here.

The BIEC held its inaugural meeting in June of 2008 and agreed to focus its efforts on the following three priority areas.

Tracking environmental progress of the book industry
Setting an industry wide goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Establishing a label to identify publishers that are leading the way in reducing environmental impacts

Subcommittees were established to develop proposals for each of the three priority areas. Recently the full council voted on these proposals, which were all passed by wide margins, including the greenhouse gas reduction proposal which was approved unanimously.

The Book Industry Environmental Council is coordinated by Green Press Initiative and the Book Industry Study Group, and is formerly chaired by Andrew Van Der Laan of Random House.

To learn more, go to www.bookcouncil.org or contact Todd with any questions.