Publisher-Printer Sustainability Checklist

Most publishers report the largest share of a carbon footprint comes from paper production. To accurately estimate the carbon footprint of a published title, publishers need to know the carbon intensity of the papers they are considering for that book. This information can be obtained from the mill that produced the paper. It will vary from mill to mill based on multiple factors and may also vary by paper type and grade. You, therefore, need to separate Scopes 1, 2 and 3 for the information that the mill is supplying, as the figures for Scope 3 can vary depending on what the mill has included in that category.

The manufacturer should provide a list of papers they stock or can reasonably source, accompanied by a verified accreditation, where available. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) PEFC (The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) EPAT (Environmental Paper Assessment Tool)

The manufacturer should be able to describe their ability to obtain adequate volumes of recycled and accredited stock, identifying mills where they have ongoing relationships, current or expected lead times for stock and special orders, and any mill-determined requirements, such as minimum order quantity or minimum basis weight.

The manufacturer should provide a list of papers that they stock or can reasonably source for body stock, end sheets, board, cover stock, and other uses. Ideally, each paper should be accompanied by a verified assessment of its recycled content. Organizations like Carnstone and the Book Chain Project in the UK, as well as the Canopy EcoPaper Database, are able to provide verified data, some on a subscription or fee basis.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If a manufacturer finds that a mill fails to compile or provide an estimate of its carbon footprint by paper type or grade, efforts must be made to engage the mill in a conversation around the need for this information. Publisher engagement with the mill may be useful in this situation.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If a chain of custody certificate is available, sharing it with the publisher is helpful.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes” then please provide information around what you do.

Manufacturers typically can identify trim sizes that are more economical on their presses than others. These preferred sizes more efficiently convert to printed sheets with minimal waste. The options can generate a conversation between the publisher and printer about how the publisher might change their trim sizes to be more economical. Also, there should be a conversation about the number of blank pages at the back of a book. Are the publishers trying to make their books fit even workings or not? Note that planning an answer to blank pages is more complicated with production plans that might use inkjet presses, which print in 6’s and other denominations. It is understood that this can be complicated if a book is being printed across several printing technologies, such as litho/offset or digitally. This is where conversations could occur between the publisher and printer.

The situation is evolving, but manufacturers have reported that recycled papers do not pass through Inkjet presses easily. Manufacturers should identify limitations and describe options for publishers that want to use only recycled paper. Consistent with the answers provided in the paper section, manufacturers can identify papers that can be reliably sourced and work most efficiently with their presses.

Print-on-demand options can reduce the need for transportation, lowering a book’s carbon footprint. Manufacturers should provide a list of the printing options that can be used to reduce a publisher’s carbon footprint.

The carbon footprint for some supplied materials has not been reliably established, but the types of ink and glue used in manufacturing books can affect their recyclability. Manufacturers should specify the range of material options, including inks and glues seen to have more sustainable characteristics. Can you provide the make-up of the inks and glues you use, such as mineral or vegetable inks? Trade-offs in book quality can also be identified in this answer. You need to understand all the major chemical components used in printing, such as the fountain solution, blanket washes, hot melt and PUR adhesives, all types of laminate, and the inks being used.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes”, manufacturers should add information on their practices or plans.

Are they made from recycled material, and how much PCW filler is used in their making?

Please explain what you are using and provide as much detail as you can about the material.

Please explain the materials that you are using and how recyclable they are.

New UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation requires businesses to measure and report on packaging specifically, plus, new legislation in France, Sweden and Spain is also seeing increased requests for data on packaging materials and volumes. There are new EPR regulations/legislation being enacted in many States, Provinces and Municipalities in Canada and the United States that may impact your requirements for product packaging.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes”, manufacturers should add information on their practices or plans.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes”, manufacturers should add information on their practices or plans.

Manufacturers should identify the specific approaches taken to laminate books. To the extent possible, manufacturers should identify the source of the materials and their characteristics. As noted in the section on Printing above, the environmental impact of some of these sourced materials may not have been fully studied at this point.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes”, manufacturers should provide a detailed answer about their measurements.

Please explain if it goes to co-gen, landfill or any other options that you use.

All manufacturers have plans in place for regular recycling of paper, other materials, and components not included in a final book. These practices should be described, accompanied by a brief explanation of each area. Some things, like chemicals, are governed by law as to how they are to be stored and subsequently disposed of. To the extent that a manufacturer has committed to supporting a circular economy, the answer should capture policies and results in the most recent reporting periods.

Manufacturers should provide a list/table of materials that they are recycling, accompanied by what percentage of your recycling these materials make up.

Manufacturers should identify the share of waste materials sent to landfills rather than recycled. To accompany this answer, recent trends and any plans to reduce the share of waste sent to landfill would be useful.

Manufacturers should provide the measurements and methodology they use to manage and reduce waste.

Both internal (staff) and external (clients, community, governing bodies, etc.) audiences are important to understanding and validating recycling policies. Manufacturers should identify who is regularly informed and how they convey that information.

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions. It can also prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reducing energy use, air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling). It is better to recycle books to make packaging than to try and recycle the materials to make books again. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy. It promotes environmental sustainability by removing raw material input and redirecting waste output in the economic system. There are some ISO standards related to recycling, such as ISO 15270:2008 for plastics waste and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management control of recycling practice. The following table, drawn from a report created by Book Industry Communication, provides the relative composition of recycled materials, shown here as a percentage of the total amount of recycled waste, i.e., everything is being recycled, and nothing is going to landfill. Many of these materials may be up or down-cycled for other, more efficient uses.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. Details can be provided in answers to the questions that follow.

Scopes 1, 2, and 3 refer to the sources of emissions (for more information, see related materials on the GBA website). Manufacturers monitoring emissions according to the source should identify what is measured and what entities are included in each scope. Across printers, answers can vary depending on the methodology used.

With a defined structure, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol is seen as a standard that organisations can use to establish carbon emissions in a standard way. Other approaches can also be used; the approach employed should be identified. Manufacturers can use the protocol(s) to explain how carbon calculations have been made. Greenhouse Gas Protocol Science Based Targets Initiative Carbon Disclosure Project

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. Publishers will look for details to inform their own reporting on Scope 3 emissions.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol helps publishers and manufacturers obtain a baseline understanding of current carbon emissions tied to their work. Once a baseline is established, most companies set targets for improvement. In answering this question, manufacturers can reference their plans to reduce emissions, inform publishers, and help both parties plan future reductions.

Carbon offsets come in many forms. They are traded or purchased to help companies reduce their carbon footprint, often with a “net zero” target or less. Generally, the best practice is to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible until only a small percentage remains, and then you can use carbon offsets to reduce the rest to zero. Larger offsets are possible but are unusual. Manufacturers can report offsets as a share of total emissions or a carbon amount. RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) are a market-based instrument certifying that the bearer owns one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable energy resource. Once the power provider has fed the energy into the grid, the REC received can be sold on the open market as an energy commodity.

Depending on the type of business, energy consumption can be a significant component of carbon emissions. The carbon impact can vary by source, as different energy providers have different carbon intensities. Tracking carbon footprints by the source is a useful way to understand current impact and improvement opportunities. Manufacturers should report all sources of energy and their calculated carbon impact.

As noted in answer to question 5 in this section, baseline calculations provide a basis for improvement (reductions in carbon footprint). Manufacturers can provide plans to improve (lower) carbon emissions derived from energy consumption.

Related to questions 5 and 8 in this section, manufacturers can provide plans to reduce carbon emissions in all areas, including energy (covered in question 8).

Total emissions are typically reported as Scopes 1, 2, or 3, with the value entered in total metric tons CO2e. The carbon impact reported here is not wholly attributable to operations for a single publisher.

Manufacturers may align their sustainability efforts with external entities that help with reporting frameworks. Companies using their services may value the consistency and validation of these external frameworks. Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If “Yes”, a reference to the most recent report is a good response. Manufacturers looking to do business with companies based in the EU might need to pay particular attention to this as a requirement.

Manufacturers may elect to report the carbon impact of shipping as part of their aggregate calculations of GHG emissions, or it can be excluded. Either approach can be justified. In answering this question, manufacturers should make clear what is included and excluded with respect to GHG calculations.

This is a “Yes” or “No” answer. If Yes, then you need to explain your workings and what you include in your scope reporting.

Because inbound and outbound shipping is included in this question, manufacturers may answer in part or in full, depending on where efforts have been made to reduce carbon footprint. Manufacturers should identify initiatives, expected targets for reductions, and opportunities for publishers to work with them to reduce emissions associated with outbound shipments.

Consistent with questions 5 and 8 under “Greenhouse Gases”, manufacturers can identify opportunities for publishers to collaborate on the overall impact of shipping processes on GHG emissions.

A variety of accreditations and standards exist (examples include Cradle to Cradle, B Corp, and EUEcolabel). Manufacturers should identify any accreditations or standards they hold or are working to obtain. Additional disclosure could include an explanation of the rationale for pursuing those accreditations.

Typical ISO standards held by manufacturers include ISO 14001, ISO 50000, and ISO 9001. Manufacturers should identify any standards they currently hold. Additional disclosure could include an explanation of the rationale for pursuing those standards.

Other standards do exist. Manufacturers that have pursued other sustainability certifications can identify those accreditations. Additional disclosure could include an explanation of the rationale for pursuing those standards, which would be particularly helpful for less well-known standards.