Transitioning the traditional publishing sector into the future can be a challenging task. Alongside the ongoing competition from "more convenient" ebooks, consumers are increasingly calling for more sustainable printing practices to ensure the publishing industry remains relevant.
Sustainable publishing refers to the practice of producing printed materials in a way that minimizes environmental impact while also considering economic viability and social responsibility. This concept encompasses various aspects, including the materials used, the processes involved, and the overall lifecycle of the printed products.
1- When is Print Sustainable?
Print can be considered sustainable when it adheres to practices that reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote environmental stewardship. This includes using eco-friendly inks, minimizing energy consumption during production, and ensuring that the entire supply chain—from sourcing materials to distribution—follows sustainable practices.
2- Use of Recycled Paper:
While printing on recycled paper is a significant step towards sustainability, it is not the sole criterion. Sustainable publishing also involves responsible sourcing of virgin materials, ensuring that they come from sustainably managed forests, and considering the entire lifecycle of the product, including end-of-life disposal or recycling.
3- Integration of Print and Online:
Print and online publishing can indeed complement each other in sustainable practices. For instance, digital platforms can reduce the need for physical materials, while print can be used strategically to enhance engagement and reach specific audiences. A hybrid approach can optimize resource use and minimize waste, allowing for a more sustainable overall communication strategy.
The Inapa Deutschland compendium aims to explore these dimensions by examining the interplay of ecological, economic, and social factors in sustainable communications. By addressing these questions, it seeks to foster a deeper understanding of how the publishing industry can evolve towards more sustainable practices.
The Facts
According to TCK Publishing, over 2 billion books are printed annually in the United States alone, which necessitates the use of more than 30 million trees. This amount of paper is equivalent to nearly 60 square miles, roughly the size of Washington, DC, solely for book production. Additionally, the process of producing books generates more than 40 million tons of CO2 each year. Paper manufacturing ranks as the third-largest consumer of fossil fuels globally, requiring substantial quantities of oil and gas at various stages of converting trees into books. Ideally, we wouldn’t want to discourage people from reading and purchasing books, nor would we want them to feel that the only sustainable choice is to pass on their books and buy used ones instead of new copies. So, what solutions can we implement to address this issue?
The Margin of Error
Rather than relying on consumer choices to promote sustainable practices, let’s address the issue from the ground up—specifically, by examining the pulping process. In traditional publishing, new books are produced in large quantities to minimize production costs per copy. Publishers estimate potential sales and include a margin for error. However, not all of these copies are sold. So, what happens to the unsold books? Ideally, they are remaindered, but in the worst-case scenario, they are discarded. This becomes particularly problematic when bookstores are unable to sell their ordered inventory. They are entitled to request a full refund from the publisher, but the cost of shipping books back and forth can be prohibitive. As a result, many bookstores choose to remove the books from the market entirely. This often means they simply tear off the covers and return them, leaving behind a significant number of severely damaged, unsellable, and effectively useless books.
The damaged books are subsequently pulped, which involves grinding them up, mixing them with chemicals, and recycling them into paper for various applications. While the term "recycled" may sound appealing and environmentally friendly, the aspect of being "mixed with chemicals" raises concerns. The paper recycling process requires a significant amount of energy, which is often sourced from coal, natural gas, or other fossil fuels. Additionally, the chemicals used, such as bleaches and solvents, are intended to break down the paper for cleaning, processing, and repurposing into new products, but these substances do not simply disappear after use. Therefore, while recycling these books is certainly preferable to sending them to landfills, it remains far from an ideal solution.
The statistics you provided highlight a significant issue regarding waste management and the environmental impact of paper products in the United States. With over 25% of landfill waste consisting of paper, it underscores the importance of promoting recycling and sustainable practices. The fact that millions of books are discarded without ever being read is particularly concerning, as it reflects not only wastefulness but also a missed opportunity for knowledge sharing and literacy. Addressing this issue requires collective efforts in education, recycling initiatives, and encouraging responsible consumption of paper products.
Print-on-demand
This brings us back to our original question: how can we address this issue? While we could wait for customers to resolve it themselves by visiting libraries, purchasing second-hand books, or opting for digital reading, ebooks have been a significant part of the publishing landscape since their commercial introduction in the 2000s. In fact, if a Kindle or iPad is used to read just 60 or more books, these devices become more environmentally friendly compared to reading the same number of print books. However, this shouldn't be our only solution. Print has evolved to be much more adaptable, and modern printing processes have become increasingly efficient in terms of time and cost. Therefore, it is essential for the publishing industry to embrace these advancements, just as other print sectors have done. Print-on-demand (POD) is not solely a solution for smaller publishing houses that lack the resources to compensate bookstores for unsold inventory. While larger publishers will still require a certain amount of stock for their anticipated bestsellers to ensure a smooth supply chain, a combination of traditional publishing methods and print-on-demand could be the 21st-century solution to the challenge of potentially discarding 30-40% of their inventory.
Moreover, the print-on-demand process offers greater flexibility compared to traditional publishing methods, allowing manufacturers to tailor their operations to be more environmentally friendly. They often utilize relatively eco-friendly dry inks, which are preferable to the potentially toxic wet inks commonly used in traditional mass printing, resulting in minimal waste. Many print-on-demand suppliers are dedicated to recycling as much of their facility's waste as possible in their efforts to adopt sustainable practices, and they already generate significantly less waste per book than conventional printers. Additionally, numerous suppliers hold important sustainability certifications, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative or the Forest Stewardship Council.
Best Practice
However, the shift towards more sustainable publishing practices is not limited to smaller publishers; larger publishing houses are also making changes. Additionally, print-on-demand is just one of several strategies that publishing companies can implement to enhance the sustainability of their production processes. It is equally crucial to pay attention to the materials used in printing, such as inks and paper.
Hachette Book Group, a leading publisher in the industry, established a comprehensive environmental policy in 2009 aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sourcing paper responsibly. By 2013, the company had increased its use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper up to 84 percent and its use of recycled fiber rose to 10 percent.
Scholastic, a prominent children's book publishing house, encounters unique challenges in its production process, particularly due to the substantial amounts of ink required for their vividly illustrated books. To address environmental concerns, the company aims to use a minimum of 60 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper in their publications, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices in children's literature.
Penguin Random House, a major player in the publishing industry, is actively working to ensure that their services and support are managed in an environmentally responsible manner. According to spokesman Stuart Applebaum, the company is committed to implementing eco-friendly practices throughout its operations, reflecting a broader industry trend towards sustainability.
Macmillan, a leading publishing powerhouse, has made significant progress in its green initiatives since the establishment of a comprehensive environmental plan by CEO John Sargent in 2009. As a result of these efforts, the company has successfully reduced its CO2 intensity per ton of purchased paper by 44 percent. By opting for energy-efficient mills and assembling a dedicated team to focus on sustainability, Macmillan has set a benchmark for best practices within the publishing industry.
No More Gimmicks
In conclusion, the publishing sector must enhance its sustainability efforts across all dimensions, including print materials, practices, and procedures, to align with consumer demand for more eco-friendly solutions. Print-on-demand technology should not be limited to small, independent publishing houses; it has the potential to revolutionize the industry as a whole. For instance, in 2016, Meganews utilized print-on-demand as a novel approach to print news for customers on demand at their kiosks, effectively bridging the gap between digital and tangible print products. While sustainability may not have been the primary goal of this initiative, it emerged as a beneficial side effect. Today, adaptable printing technologies like print-on-demand are no longer mere gimmicks or underdeveloped concepts; they represent a viable strategy for addressing significant challenges within the publishing sector and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
