1. Carbon footprinting – what’s the point?
Michael Sturges October 2015

2. Update Why bother with our carbon footprint? Evolving paper footprint
Case studies – print and digital

3. Carbon is not the only fruit
There are multiple sustainability risks to our supply chains – both direct and indirect – that we need to be aware of
“If the present growth trends in world population, industrialisation, pollution, food production, and resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to growth on this planet will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years. The most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity”
The Limits to Growth, MIT, 1972

4. Limits to Growth Images sourced from The Guardian:

5. Sustainability in our supply chains - print
Fibre
Sustainable forests; Biodiversity; Water; Climate change; Competition of the resource
Pulp
Energy (fossil fuels); Water; Disrupted distribution by sea
Paper
Energy (fossil fuels); Water(?)
Printing
Energy (fossil fuels)
Distribution
End-of-life
Disposal options for non-recyclables
Content
Energy (premises, travel)

6. Sustainability in our supply chains - digital
Production of devices
Resources
Fossil-fuel derived plastics
Rare earths and other resources
Powering devices
Energy (fossil fuels)
End-of-life
Safe recycling and disposal
Content
Energy (premises; travel; storage?)
Resources (storage)

7. Paper footprint – evolution of averages per country
2012 average (kgCO2e)
2013 average (kgCo2e)
2014 average (kgCo2e)
Austria
705
659
571
Finland
474
526
441
France
212
198
215
Germany
1001
1007
980
Netherlands
779
664
651
Sweden
287
257
261
Europe wide
674
676
630

8. 2012 to 2013: Of 122 magazine paper grades:
37% of magazine papers had a higher carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012
41% of magazine papers achieved a reduced carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012

9. Why? A complex picture, but some identifiable underlying influences:
37% of magazine papers had a higher carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012
A complex picture, but some identifiable underlying influences:
1) Increase in electricity carbon factor for some Finnish mills (drier weather, reduced availability of hydro)
2) An increase in electricity carbon factor for Germany, Austria and UK (increased consumption of fossil fuels?)
3) Changes in balance between onsite fuels consumed versus electricity purchased (possibly linked to energy pricing?)
41% of magazine papers achieved a reduced carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012

10. 2013 to 2014: Of 127 magazine paper grades:
8% of magazine papers had a higher carbon footprint in 2014 compared to 2013
50% of magazine papers achieved a reduced carbon footprint in 2014 compared to 2013

11. Cumulative change 2012 to 2014:
14% of magazine papers had a higher carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012
62% of magazine papers achieved a reduced carbon footprint in 2013 compared to 2012

12. Case study 1: Children’s/young persons monthly – printed magazine

13. Case study 1: Children’s/young persons monthly – printed magazine

14. Case study 1: Children’s/young persons monthly – digital content

15. Case study 1: Children’s/young persons monthly – combined print and digital

16. Case study 2: Monthly leisure/interest – printed magazine

17. Case study 2: Monthly leisure/interest – printed magazine

18. Case study 2: Monthly leisure/interest – digital content

19. Case study 2: Monthly leisure/interest – impact per copy

20. Case study 2: Monthly leisure/interest – combined print and digital

21. Case study 3: B2B biannual magazine

22. Case study 4: B2B suite of titles – printed and web

23. Looking forward – the challenges and benefits of working with carbon footprints
Looking at the big picture
Easy to become overwhelmed
Easy to point the finger to supply chain partners, energy providers and government
But our decisions influence the supply chain
Challenges
Time and difficulty
The “so what now?” factor
Benefits
We start to see trends and to understand the underlying detail – which means we can take action
Understanding what we can and can’t do
Building partnerships with suppliers and customers

24. For more information visit:

25. Facing Up To Your Responsibilities
The vital role that publishers have to play in meeting our sector’s commitment to sustainability

26. Three overarching aims
Voluntary Responsibility Deal between Defra, Scottish & Welsh Government and the PPA
Reflects shared ambition to improve the environmental performance of this sector and support a move towards
A zero waste economy
A low carbon economy
Three overarching aims
Waste Prevention
Sustainable Production
Recycling

27. Sustainable production
Voluntary Responsibility Deal between Defra, Scottish & Welsh Government and the PPA
Waste prevention
Unsolds
Covermounts
Plastic Wrapping
Sustainable production
Apply and learn from the PPA carbon calculator
Sustainable fibre sources
Recycling
Post-consumer magazine recycling

28. Achievements monitored by numerous key performance indicators
Voluntary Responsibility Deal between Defra, Scottish & Welsh Government and the PPA
Achievements monitored by numerous key performance indicators
Underpinned by a detailed action plan
PPA Sustainability Action Group acts as the platform for delivery against the deal
Current deal runs to 2018 – work to be done!

29. Voluntary Responsibility Deal between Defra, Scottish & Welsh Government and the PPA
For more information Visit: Or contact: Rose Benjamin, Head of Sustainability Phone +44(0)