Our Indusry's 'Green' Leaders

Vincent Liguori, vice president of paper purchasing for Random House, says he has not tracked this information in the past, but expects that he will in the future.

Despite the lack of large-scale tracking, there are some statistics that demonstrate recycled paper usage and its impact. Last year, the Greenwillow Books imprint of HarperCollins published a book called "Ida B," which has sold well and been reprinted several times. To produce this book, approximately 130,000 lbs. of New Leaf 100-percent PCW recycled paper was used in 2004. In one year, that title alone saved 1,560 mature trees and other natural resources.

University presses—the most proactive industry segment using eco-papers—also have been somewhat active in tracking their usage. Cornell University Press used approximately 400,000 lbs. (picture 10 40,000-lb. truckloads of paper) of 30-percent or higher PCW recycled paper last year. The major portion of that was printed on 50-percent or higher PCW recycled paper.

Thirteen university presses have made formal commitments to the Green Press Initiative, and for the handful that report their usage to GPI, the total usage of 30-percent or higher PCW recycled paper for 2004 was 1.4 million lbs. (35 truckloads). There are a total of 126 members of the Association of American University Presses, and about 15 of those are the same size or larger than Cornell. On that scale, eco-tonnage can add up quickly.

Independent Publishers Push Eco-Friendly Production

The Publishers Marketing Association (PMA) is an association of independent publishers with 3,500 members. Most PMA members publish only a small number of books per year, but in aggregate, they represent significant paper use. In 2004, PMA officially endorsed the recommended standards of the GPI to their members to encourage them to shift their production practices.

Kent Sturgis, publisher of Epicenter Press and the current president of PMA, has used approximately 24,000 lbs. of 100-percent PCW paper since making a pledge to Green Press Initiative in February 2004. Sturgis was able to meet the highest standard (100-percent PCW recycled paper) quickly partly because of his own commitment, but also because his printer, Transcontinental in Montreal, offered him a 100-percent PCW recycled sheet at parity with an equivalent virgin house sheet. This is another excellent example of how the publisher/printer partnership can advance environmental innovation quickly. Sturgis expects to print 12 more titles on 100-percent PCW recycled paper in 2005.