Sustainability in Publishing

Sustainability Taskforce

Our Sustainability Taskforce was established in February 2020. Meetings are quarterly and chaired by Helen Griggs, Global Director Environment, Procurement & Supply at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The meetings are discussion-based forums to discuss sustainability initiatives, share industry updates and hear from guest speakers.

Any member of the Publishers Association can apply to join the group. If you would like to find out more, please contact our Sustainability Manager Alice.

Publishing Declares

Publishing Declares is a declaration on behalf of the UK book and journal publishing industry to take urgent action on climate change. An initiative of the Publishers Association’s Sustainability Taskforce, the declaration was launched in October 2021 with 39 founding signatories.

All businesses operating in the UK book and journal publishing industry – including printers, booksellers, authors, illustrators, and other key actors in the supply chain – are encouraged to pledge their support for Publishing Declares.

How we’re helping publishers

We have engaged expert providers to deliver a range of specialised tools bespoke to UK book and journal publishers. Our members have access to these tools and the accompanying guidance as part of their membership.

Carbon Calculator

As part of a suite of tools designed to support publishers in taking action on Publishing Declares, we worked with sustainability experts RISE (Research Institute of Sweden) and software specialists Solstice to design the first and only bespoke carbon calculator for the UK book and journal publishing industry. 

The tool allows members to monitor their carbon outputs across various aspects of their business, including different sites and departments. It monitors greenhouse gas emissions made by the company itself, emissions it produces indirectly, and emissions up and down its value chain (scope 1 – 3 emissions).

Members can use the Carbon Calculator to review how they are performing from a sustainability perspective. Over time, with further data, publishers will be benchmarked against each other, as well as the industry as a whole. This will highlight areas for improvement and help the industry tackle common issues in sustainability.

Members of the Publishers Association have free access to the tool at sustainability-publishers.org.uk and it can be accessed by emailing sustainability@publishers.org.uk for login credentials.

Materials Matrix

The Materials Matrix stands alongside the Carbon Calculator and allows members to see the most common materials used in the publishing supply chain and sustainable alternatives for print. Each material is assessed according to a set of key environmental indicators, including GHG emissions, energy efficiency and recyclability.

The Materials Matrix assesses materials (paper and board; cloth; plastics; metals; CDs), packaging (board wrapping; void fill) and production (printing process; inks; binding glues; finishes). Both tools together allow publishers and those in design and production to understand the sustainability implications of different processes and materials, enable them to make informed decisions, and choose more sustainable options.

Members of the Publishers Association have free access to the tool at sustainability-publishers.org.uk and can be accessed by emailing sustainability@publishers.org.uk for login credentials.