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How to Green Your Book (for Publishers)
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 07.10.07
Submitted by The Green Guide Girls™, Cindy Katz & Jennifer S. Wilkov, and Green Press Initiative
What’s the Big Deal?
The last time you walked into a bookstore it probably didn’t feel much like a forest—but for all the trees used in those pages, it could be. According to bizstats.com, there are more than 6,000 companies in the US that publish books, and when you include “self-publishers,” there are literally tens of thousands. The global impact of this is rather mind-boggling. For instance, if a publisher sells a million copies of an average 250-page book, it takes 12,000 trees to produce books for this one title. Alternatively, if the publisher chooses to print the books on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, no trees are cut. Reflect on the zillions of books you saw in the bookstore.

Publishers can lead the way to help reduce the impact on endangered forests, fight the climate crisis, conserve resources, and protect public health. Each time publishers of all sizes choose to use environmentally friendly methods and technologies, they decrease the impact of the publishing business on the planet and help transform the industry as a whole. In the long run, better publishing practices might even mean we need fewer books about deforestation, chemical toxicity, and climate change, and wouldn’t that be nice?

The information in this guide was provided by The Green Guide Girls™ from our book, The Green Guide Girls: Guide to Book Publishing.

1. Recycled paper—small change, big difference

Paper is a major component of every book and tends to be the focus of most environmental discussions in the book publishing industry. The top choice for environmentally friendly paper is 100% post consumer waste recycled paper (100% PCW), meaning that no virgin fibers were used. But the advantages don’t end there: since recycled paper creates a market for what would otherwise be thrown away, using post-consumer recycled fiber effectively pulls paper out of the landfill. It also takes less energy to convert old paper into new paper than it does to cut down trees and turn them into virgin pulp, which means we can publish fewer books about global warming.

2. FSC: One small step for publishers…

The best alternative to 100% post-consumer recycled, is paper that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit forest certification organization with members from over 70 countries whose interests reflect a unique combination of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, civil society, indigenous rights, and wood and paper production. The FSC program is widely accepted as setting the highest standards for protecting people and the environment while allowing for the deliberate and careful logging of forests to support the continued use of the planet’s most renewable resource—forests. For more on the FSC and sustainable lumbar, see How to Green Your Furniture.

3. Cast a wide net

The customer is always right! Whether you buy paper directly from a mill or purchase it through a printer, you are the customer. If current suppliers are unwilling to carry recycled and FSC-certified papers, or if they are unwilling to sell them at or near the same price as conventional paper, take your business elsewhere. An updated list of environmental grade papers and printers who supply them are available via the Green Press Initiative.

4. Myth busted: no need to break the bank

Papers containing recycled fiber used to cost 15-20% more than their conventional counterparts, but that is no longer the case. Many publishers are able to meet environmental goals while achieving cost parity, or paying only a few pennies more per book. So get quotes from multiple suppliers and use them along with a formal policy to negotiate the best price possible.

5. “Chlorine bleaches out life”

Using paper that is labeled “Totally Chlorine-Free” (for paper sourced from virgin fiber), or “Processed Chlorine Free” (for paper containing recycled fiber) protects our environment. It reduces the toxins released into our waterways and the amount of water required to bleach the paper. According to the Chlorine Free Products Association web site, “Chlorine bleaches out life”. The amount of water saved through this process is incredible. Consider this: "To make one single 8” by 11” sheet of paper using chlorine chemistry requires more than 13 ounces of water for every single 8” by 11” sheet. So that means more than a good sized can of Coke is needed for every sheet that you use for copying. If it was produced with chlorine free technology, it would require less than two ounces of water. So there is a tremendous difference in just the raw water usage,” says Archie J. Beaton, Executive Director, CEO, Chlorine Free Products Association and member of the Green Guide Girls’™ Collective Wisdom Team™, from The Green Guide Girls: Guide to Book Publishing.

6. Judge a book by its cover

While ensuring that the pages under the covers are sourced, processed and printed in a green way will do the most to reduce environmental impacts, it is important not to forget about the cover. For hardcover books, make sure that the binder-board (the main component of the cover) is made from 100% post-consumer waste. Cover materials can also be made using environmentally friendly processes. For example, Ecological Fibers produces environmentally sound cover solutions using 100% solvent free practices. For paperback books, make sure that the coated papers for the cover maximize the use of post-consumer waste. For example, companies like New Leaf Paper provide 100% PCW coated papers that can be used for paperback covers.

7. Read your vegetables

Using vegetable-based inks can greatly reduce toxic emissions. Discuss the possibility of printing with vegetable or soy-based inks on all or a portion of the books you publish. This will be dependent on the type of equipment your printer has and the time allotted for printing in your overall production schedule. We will all breathe easier as a result, and your lungs and your children's will be grateful. For more information about inks and resources to assist you, please refer to the Ink section The Green Guide Girls: Guide to Book Publishing.

8. Don’t be afraid of commitment

Set a goal and commit to it. Developing a formal policy ensures that environmental goals will continue to be met at each publisher, even if the people currently working in production move to another job or retire. A formal policy also stresses the importance of the environmental goals for everyone working there. Perhaps the biggest advantage of developing a formal policy is that it can be used as a tool to negotiate a better price on environmental grade papers because it allows suppliers to plan for the future and buy in bulk. Consider establishing a formal policy that commits to use at least 30% post-consumer fiber and maximizes the use of FSC certified fiber. If you feel it is difficult, commit to at least 30% post-consumer recycled fiber immediately and set graduated benchmarks to reach that goal over a 3—5 year period. A sample paper policy is available online here. You as the publisher have the opportunity to lead the way to produce books that are ecologically sound while being productive, profitable and responsible in your business.

9. Shout it!—or maybe just whisper

Whether subtly or overtly, let people know you have an environmental policy in your publishing company. Say it loud, say it clear, and say it everywhere—on your website, brochure and business card. It can be as simple as including “an environmentally friendly company” on your stationery when you have this policy in place. It is essential that suppliers and customers become aware of your eco-policy so they can assist you and support your practices. Suppliers will possibly negotiate a better price for environmental paper when they know that you will be purchasing specific papers in bulk. This allows printers and mills to better understand how the market is shifting and prepare for it so they will have the environmental grade papers you need in the future. Programs like Envirowise and organizations like Green Press Initiative on page 7 of their Toolkit for Responsible Paper Use-Publishers provide guidance for writing your environmental policy.

10. Let ‘em know what color you are

Your books are your eco-advertisements! Your customers can make an informed decision to purchase your books when they know the resulting environmental benefits of the choices you made for cover materials and paper. Books should include an Eco-Audit which reveals information about the paper and materials that were used and the number of trees, gallons of wastewater, and greenhouse gas emissions conserved as a result of these choices. Eco-statements can be calculated using Environmental Defense’s Paper Calculator or the Eco-Audit process through Green Press Initiative.