Green Publishers
Chelsea Green Publishing
Chelsea Green Publishing has been publishing titles about sustainable living for 30 years now, but what most appealed me in this independent house was that it is also seriously engaged in promoting sustainable practices across its business.
The publisher claims to be “regarded as the pre-eminent publisher of books on sustainable living” and to “lead the industry both in terms of content – foundational books on renewable energy, green building, organic agriculture, eco-cuisine, and ethical business – and in terms of environmental practice”. This house summarizes its mission in a general “triple bottom line” practice, principle which reminded me the guide lines of FSC’s mission: a practice that benefits people, the planet and profit, or in FSC words, “environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous”.
The publisher, based on White River Junction, Vermont (USA) – a small, verdant place that seems to have been carefully chosen to match with this concept –, prints 95% of its books on recycled paper and, at least, 30% of this number on post-consumer waste paper. According to official information available on Chelsea Green website, books and catalogues are printed on chlorine-free recycled paper, using soy-based inks, whenever possible.
However, sustainable publishing is not only about paper, and this US publisher, which is also a member of the Green Press Initiative, has been cutting on shipping costs by contracting US and Canadian printers. I consider that this is a good example on how environmental decisions in book production are broader than choosing paper, and that today’s publishers, and particularly those working in production departments, have to be very creative on how to minimise their ecological impact, specially while facing budgetary constraints.
Image credit: GooglePlus Chelsea Green Publishing
Alastair Sawday Publishing
Alastair Sawday is the man behind Alastair Sawday Publishing. Alastair Sawday is a widely known environmentalist, who proudly had a “green” career even before starting his publishing company in 1994. He was involved with Oxfam, the Green Party, and was the vice-president of the Soil Association, a British charity campaigning for sustainable food, farming and land use. In the 70s, he also founded the Avon Friends of the Earth, that played an important role in the development of recycling in the UK.
Alastair Sawday Publishing is a very interesting example of environmentally sound publishing. Sawday’s imprint is specialised in ecological and organic tourism, publishing accommodation and travel guides (B&B, hotels, pubs and restaurants) of eco-friendly places around the world. Its guides offer suggestions on where to eat local and organic food or where to spend a night closer to the nature: perhaps in a treehouse.
Notwithstanding, the green ethics goes well beyond its list of titles. Sawday’s claims to have reduced its carbon emissions to 7 tonnes per year and to have installed a wood-pellet boiler, solar panels, a rainwater tank, as well as low-energy lighting. The publisher even uses an ethical Bank for its deposit accounts.
But specifically regarding book production, I considered that Sawday’s was a remarkable example for both small and large publisher on what can be done to reduce publishers’ environmental impact. Sawday’s works with a British, certified printer, and decides, together with the printer, the most adequate paper to use. Furthermore, the publisher is also engaged in overseas projects to balanced out its books by planting new trees.
Image credit: B&B Association
Green Books
A Devon based house, Green Books has been publishing books on sustainability, eco-building, eco-philosophy and green living for over 25 years. It claims to be “the UK’s largest independent environmental book publishing company, producing books on a wide range of ecological and cultural issues.”
Since its foundation, the publisher has been working side by side with The Schumacher Society, an organisation that promotes the legacy of the British economist E.F. Schumacher (author of the widely celebrated Small is Beautiful), through the discussion of sustainable and ecological solutions.
In 2009, John Elford, founder of Green Books, stated that their publications had been systematically printed within 150 miles from their offices in Devon, using vegetable inks, and also that the majority of books had been printed on 100% PCW paper. From a financial point of view, these green measures promote the local sustainability, which is additionally beneficial for a small publisher – of 8 employees only – like this one.
It is a fact that decisions such as printing an entire list on recycled paper might not be a profitable option, at least, for now, for big publishing houses. Recycled paper is more expensive than virgin paper, and it is worth reminding that its process is not purely ecological, since it soaks up energy and chemicals. Regarding large houses, The Publishers Weekly mentioned that Hachette is now using 10% of recycled fibre, contrariwise to Penguin that is only using recycled paper for printing, copying (100% recycled) and stationery (75%).
Despite its differences – either in prominence, size or income – small and large publishers face the same problems and need to take similar decisions in order to minimize their environmental impact and ensure sustainability. They might be about paper, inks, gas emissions, light consumption in offices, or even about reducing unnecessary costs in business travels.
Image credit: Green Books
Microcosm Publishing
Original, trendy and indie, Microcosm Publishing is a reflection of its city: Portland (Oregon, USA). Founded in 1996, Microcosm is not a conventional publisher. Highly committed to a sustainable way of living, the publisher declares to be specialised “in work designed to make the reader feel good about being alive, take an active role in bettering their life, and impact the world around them”.
Its extensive catalogue includes a wide range of subjects, from Art and Design to Vegan/Animal Rights, crossing over Music, History, Literature, Graffiti,… Its brand is very well defined, not only by its titles, but also by its vision. Everything in Microcosm Publishing has an eye-catching, strong design, and, for instance, even the logo – a chain-ring – expresses one of the higher social commitments of this publisher: everyday cycling. Immediately noticed as a bike-friendly and pro-creativity publisher, I considered Microcosm as a really interesting example for book production for 4 reasons:
- Firstly, it conjugates ecological awareness with style. Microcosm has several merchandise products, including reusable totes (made in the USA), that avoid the consumption and waste of paper and plastic bags;
- Secondly, its books are printed by national union workers. This shows a particular commitment of this publisher to labours and their rights. This is an ethical decision, and frequently publishers, and particularly production directors, have to consider this sort of ethical issues, about environmental and human rights, about where and with whom to print a book;
- Thirdly, all Microcosm books are printed on FSC certified paper, and the publisher is moving towards all production using PWC paper, 100% tree-free paper, with vegetable inks and bindings;
- Fourthly, work-related travels are made by bicycle or tricycle. According to The Publishers Weekly “the company provides incentives for its seven employees to walk, bicycle, or bus to get to work, and has 100% participation”.
Image credit: Team Colors
CAT – Centre for the Alternative Technology
CAT is an eco-centre, based in Wales, dedicated to the education and promotion of practical solutions for sustainability. A mega complex as well as a mega organisation, CAT was founded in 1973, and covers a wide range of areas regarding sustainable living, from environmental building to renewable energy.
Despite being particularly known for its courses and facilities – for example, a large visitor centre with several attractions (photovoltaic pannels, windmills…) and Britain’s largest green bookshop – the reason why I chose to include it in my list of green publishers was due to the green policy of CAT Publications.
All the books printed by this publisher follow the environmental policy of its eco-organisation, and therefore are ethically green. The publisher prints its books locally, “within a fifty mile radius”, and “never uses printers based outside mainland Britain”. According to Graham Preston, Production designer at CAT, the publisher only uses recycled or FSC accredited paper, and works with printers, suppliers and distributors with sound environmental policies. He declares: “It might cost us a bit more but we stick to our guns on this. It’s all about making publishers aware of their damage and encouraging everyone to do their bit.” (The Bookseller, 26/09/2008).
Image credit: CAT
Publishing gets green 