Carbon Reduction Recommendations for the Publishing Sector

Only 1% of consumers 'very much' trust 'carbon-neutral' claims

(Pollara, 2007)

For major paper purchasers and producers, effective carbon mitigation strategies include embracing low carbon papers and technologies (including FSC certification and increasing recovered fibre rates), reducing overall fibre consumption, reducing the carbon footprint of the fibre and energy used for paper production and working with government agencies to conserve and protect intact and endangered forests.

With this in mind, Canopy has identified the steps needed for a credible carbon reduction initiative by a heavy paper consumer:

1. Focus on intact forest protection and 'carbon reduction' over carbon neutrality

2. Measure, with a credible environmental science-based organization, the entire footprint of your operations, including:

-Loss of biomass and emissions from deforestation and forest fragmentation (including emissions from soil disruption and forest loss, especially in old-growth areas)

-Fossil fuel emissions associated with logging

-Pulp transportation to mill

-Paper production at mill

-Paper transport to printer

-Printing and production at printer

-Distribution to subscribers and the newsstand

-End result of unsold copies including methane release in land fills for copies that are not recycled

-Office energy use for lights and equipment, and

-Staff travel and commutes

3. Shift as much paper use as possible to online and electronic sources.

4. Reduce trim size and basis weights of publications where possible.

5. Shift as much of the remaining paper as possible to high-recycled content papers. (Using 100% recycled paper will reduce emissions associated with paper production by 38-48% (www.papercalculator.org) as well as alleviate the pressure to log forests and reduce the volume of paper waste going to land fills.

6. Look at sourcing papers with agricultural residue fibres where possible.

7. If the paper contains virgin wood fibre, ensure it is from an FSC certified tenure, because FSC certified fibre often carries a lower carbon footprint than other virgin fibre.

8. Source paper from mills that use certified renewable energy like biogas and wind. Purchasing papers from these mills also helps realize another level of carbon reduction.

9. Once you have reduced your footprint as much as possible, offset the rest by investing in 'gold standard' renewable energy offsets.

What about tree planting as a viable carbon offset?

In 2008, The David Suzuki Foundation released a report entitled 'Credit Check', which compares the benefits of tree planting to fossil fuel reduction. It contains an in-depth analysis of the elements in gold standard offsets and stresses that though tree planting projects have their place if properly planned or managed, 'they cannot be considered as effective as projects that reduce fossil fuel use and reduce the net buildup up of greenhouse gases in the global atmosphere.'

See Reviews and Reports from ENGO's for a copy of 'Credit Check'.