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Steps towards sustainable publishing

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STEP ONE: Plan for sustainability upfront

Why

Planning for sustainability early in the project can save time and resources. Many decisions made at the initial planning stages can place limitations on or create opportunities for what you can do at later stages.

Many aspects dealt with appropriately at the beginning can result in cost saving and environmental benefits.

What you can do

  1. Check that a printed item is the best way to get information across.
  2. Print summary reports and put the full report on the web.
  3. Print on both sides of the paper when you can.
Other considerations
  • Be clear about your target audience and actual number of copies required.
  • Check whether digital printing is more appropriate than offset printing.
  • Size matters - design to use all the paper specified and minimise printers’ off cut waste.
  • Reduce the use of resources when working through the drafting and proofing processes.

Interested in more information? See Plan for sustainability upfront.

STEP TWO: Make a difference with paper and ink

Paper considerations

Why

Paper manufacturing can have a large impact on the environment. The process starts when the trees are grown and managed, harvested, and manufactured into paper, and finishes when the paper is disposed of.

By selecting an environmentally sound paper you will help:

  • provide a market for recycled products (for recycling to be sustainable there needs to be a demand for recycled products)
  • ensure sustainable forest harvesting is occurring
  • ensure the manufacturing of the paper has minimal environmental impact on the surrounding community and ecosystems
  • ensure less energy is used in the whole life of the paper.

Purchasers have a large ability to influence a number of environmental impacts - simply by choosing a different type of paper.

What you can do

  1. Select paper with an accredited eco label.
  2. Specify recycled paper with high percentage recycled content (recycled - 30% to 100%).
  3. Specify paper manufactured using a minimum of chlorine (TCF or ECF processes).
  4. For papers containing virgin (non-recycled) fibres, specify paper with a maximum level of pulp from third party certified sustainably managed forests.
Other considerations
  • Select uncoated paper over clay-coated paper wherever possible.
  • Select the lowest paper weight suitable for the job.
  • Try to use white paper when possible, and only as white as needed.
  • Consider the advantages of selecting a paper whose pulp source is close to the mill, and whose manufacturing is close to New Zealand.
  • Cultivate a relationship with local paper reps to stay informed on the latest developments in paper technology.

Interested in more information? See Make a difference with paper and ink - paper considerations.

Ink considerations

Why

The use of ink affects both the environment (through manufacturing and use) and printing staff. Some inks can cause medical problems as they contain hazardous substances for example; antimony, chromium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, cobalt, cadmium, manganese, lead. Cleaning the inks from printing presses can require the use of powerful cleaning agents.

By considering the environmental factors of ink choice you will help:

  • reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals printing staff are exposed to.
  • reduce potentially harmful emissions to the air
  • ensure ink is used on the publication and not on offcuts.

Ink use affects both the local environment and printing staff. Choose carefully.

What you can do

  1. Specify mineral free inks (ie, vegetable, soy, agri-ink, or water based) wherever possible.
  2. If not using mineral free inks, use inks with less than 10% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  3. Design for minimal ink coverage and avoid bleeds off the page.
Other considerations
  • Use recycled ink wherever possible.

Interested in more information? See Make a difference with paper and ink - ink considerations.

STEP THREE: Make a difference with finished form

Why

Publications can take many forms. Some of these have larger environmental impacts than others and use products that are hazardous (ie, sealers) and reduce the ability to recycle the product.

By considering the environmental factors in the finished form of the publication you will help:

  • ensure the publication can be recycled at the end of its life
  • ensure no hazardous chemicals are used to coat the publication.

Your publication can have a low environmental impact and still look good.

What you can do

  1. Use aqueous sealers
  2. Avoid hot glue melts (used in perfect binding) where practicable
  3. Avoid plastic lamination
Other considerations
  • Avoid the use of PVC and other non-recyclable material for covers

Interested in more information? See Make a difference with finished form.

Step Four: Influence distribution and suppliers

Influencing distribution

Why

Transporting publications around the country and the world uses energy and money. Sometimes if the person receiving it has moved address or is not interested, it is a waste of resources.

The form in which an item is sent can also vary. Some of the forms use substances that can reduce the ability to recycle or reuse the product.

By considering the environmental aspects of distribution you will help:

  • ensure the publication goes to only those that would be interested - minimising the number of extra copies
  • save costs in mailing
  • ensure resources are used as many times as practicable.

Considering ways to distribute your publication can help save resources and money.

What you can do

  1. Avoid self adhesive labels where possible. If using them select removable aqueous emulsions.
  2. Update mailing lists regularly.
  3. Avoid flow wrapping.

Other considerations

  • Print mailing information directly onto envelopes or brochures.
  • Consider mailing more than one document in one envelope.
  • Use reusable/resealable envelopes instead of extra envelopes.
  • Specify envelopes manufactured with recycled stock.

Interested in more information? See Influence distribution and suppliers - influencing distribution.

Influencing suppliers (designers and printers)

Why

The designers and printers you work with have a large influence on whether or not your publication is environmentally sound.

By influencing your suppliers to make environmentally sound choices you will help:

  • ensure your good practice is carried on by your suppliers
  • reward those suppliers who are making positive steps towards reducing their impact on the environment
  • help encourage good environmental practice throughout the whole industry.

Early contact with designers and printers is a key way you can make sure environmental issues are considered.

What you can do

Designer and printer information
  1. Ask what is being done to ensure the designer/printer is compliant with health and safety (ie, OSH) and environmental legislation
  2. Ask if the designer/printer has an environmental policy/environmental management system or an energy management policy/system.
Other considerations
  • Ask what is being done to reduce the amount of solid waste to landfill
  • Ask what is being done by the designer/printer to manage and audit their supply chain
Specific printer information
  1. Ask if the printer is compliant with all resource consent conditions and by-laws.
  2. Ask what is being done to minimise air emissions, including VOCs, ozone depleting substances, and toxins and to reduce chemical use or discharge to sewers.
  3. Ask if the printer makes efforts to minimise the side effects of cleaning.
Other considerations
  • Ask if the printer recycles/reuses their cleaning rags, waste inks and ink containers

Interested in more information? See Influence distribution and suppliers - influencing suppliers.

STEP FIVE: Make a statement

Why

By considering environmental impacts and making choices towards sustainable products you have made a positive difference. Make sure you tell people about this and encourage others to be responsible!

By making your mark you help:

  • ensure your audience knows about the positive environmental considerations you have taken
  • create awareness of what can be done to reduce the publishing industries’ impact on the environment.

Tell others what a great job you have done and increase your profile.

What you can do

1. Make a statement about the contents of the publication (ie, recycled paper percentage, bleaching process, ink used)

2. Encourage good behaviour

Interested in more information? See Make a statement.

Acknowledgements

This guide was developed with help from existing resources including the Waitakere City Council’s publication Guidelines for ‘Green’ Print Purchasing and the Christchurch City Council’s Print Purchasing Guidelines (internal resource). Thank you to the many individuals in the publishing and printing industry who have provided time giving advice on drafts of this document.