The AAP and BISG/GPI reports recommend strategies and practical steps any publisher can initiate. GPI reports that a Book Industry Environmental Council is being developed to provide a forum for tracking execution of environmental strategies, such as:
1. Reduce consumption and waste industrywide by addressing overprinting, reduction of returns, recycling and pulping of unsold books.
2. Monitor your office energy use, and explore “green” options in shipping.
3. Manage your print quantities to reduce returns. Incorporate demand printing wherever feasible.
4. Standardize your trim sizes and paper grades, and reduce basis weights.
5. Question your paper suppliers about their recycled-paper percentages and stocking practices, and ask for samples and specifications.
Eugene G. Schwartz is editor at large for ForeWord Reviews, an industry observer and an occasional columnist for Book Business magazine. In an earlier career, he was in the printing business and held production management positions at Random House, Prentice-Hall/Goodyear and CRM Books/Psychology Today. A former PMA (IBPA) board member, he has headed his own publishing consultancy, Consortium House. He is also Co-Founder of Worthy Shorts Inc., a development stage online private press and publication service for professionals as well as an online back office publication service for publishers and associations. He is on the Publishing Business Conference and Expo Advisory Board.
Gene Therapy
The AAP and BISG/GPI reports recommend strategies and practical steps any publisher can initiate. GPI reports that a Book Industry Environmental Council is being developed to provide a forum for tracking execution of environmental strategies, such as:
1. Reduce consumption and waste industrywide by addressing overprinting, reduction of returns, recycling and pulping of unsold books.
2. Monitor your office energy use, and explore “green” options in shipping.
3. Manage your print quantities to reduce returns. Incorporate demand printing wherever feasible.
4. Standardize your trim sizes and paper grades, and reduce basis weights.
5. Question your paper suppliers about their recycled-paper percentages and stocking practices, and ask for samples and specifications.
Eugene G. Schwartz is editor at large for ForeWord Reviews, an industry observer and an occasional columnist for Book Business magazine. In an earlier career, he was in the printing business and held production management positions at Random House, Prentice-Hall/Goodyear and CRM Books/Psychology Today. A former PMA (IBPA) board member, he has headed his own publishing consultancy, Consortium House. He is also Co-Founder of Worthy Shorts Inc., a development stage online private press and publication service for professionals as well as an online back office publication service for publishers and associations. He is on the Publishing Business Conference and Expo Advisory Board.