We are committed to a programme of continuous improvement in order to minimise the negative impacts of our operations on the environment. Following a large-scale audit carried out by The Carbon Trust in 2006, we are currently implementing a three-year rolling environmental plan.
The plan covers everything from paper procurement and recycling, to lighting and catering.

Here are a few highlights of our environmental initiatives:

• We were the first UK publisher to publish a pro-FSC paper procurement policy, and the first book publisher in the world to gain FSC chain-of-custody accreditation. In January 2010 we secured a deal with our paper mills to enable us to use FSC paper on 100% of our b/w demy, royal, A format and B format titles.

• In 2005 we established a plant-a-tree programme, setting aside money for a flexible programme to plant trees every year, reviewing annually how and with what organisation we plant them.

• We have recycling schemes in place across all of our sites. Last year we recycled 4176 tonnes of paper, 486 tonnes of cardboard and 45 tonnes of plastic (enough to make 900,000 bottles). We are on course to improve on these figures this year.

• In March 2008 we set up a cycle to work scheme at our London sites. The scheme allows employees to save up to 50% on the cost of a new bike and accessories.

• We first assessed our carbon footprint in September 2006 with the support of The Climate Group. We are currently rolling out a carbon emission reduction programme and making improvements to our sites which should save 250 tonnes of Co2 per annum on an ongoing basis. We reassessed our carbon footprint in May 2009 as part of a worldwide Bertelsmann initiative. In accordance with the guidelines of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol we measured the following CO2 emissions across all sites: Scope 1 - from all publishing and distribution sites (gas, oil), and company owned vehicles (petrol, diesel, LPG). Scope 2 - emissions from operational electricity consumption. Scope 3 - emissions from employee business travel.

• In September 2008 we purchased green energy across all of our sites until September 2009. It is still difficult to purchase green energy in large amounts so we are delighted to have found a supplier of good quality CHP and hope to extend the contract next year.

• We are a founding member of a publishing industry working party set up to construct a tool which will calculate the carbon footprint of a range of standard and hardback books. This will allow the industry to set a benchmark and consequently, realistic reduction targets for reducing waste in book production. 

• We are a member of The Environmental Action Group, which was formed by The Publishers Association and The Booksellers Association to encourage and help the book industry to reduce its carbon emissions, operate more sustainably and reduce the impact of book publishing and bookselling on the environment. For more information visit http://www.green4books.org.uk.  

Paper procurement

Environmental issues are important for The Random House Group. As outlined in our Environmental Policy, we are committed to a programme of management, continuous improvement and reporting of our direct and indirect impacts to minimize the influence that we have on the environment...

• responsible use of natural resources in the production and
  distribution of our books
• environmentally responsible procurement
• the efficient use of energy, water, raw materials and space
• reduction of waste
• recycling of packaging materials
• prevention of pollution

Three things are clear:

• As a publisher of books the selection of the right paper for our titles is of vital importance from an environmental as well as a commercial perspective.
• As a company we are concerned about forest protection and want to ensure that we do not contribute to the destruction of ancient and endangered forests.
• As a buyer of paper we have a responsibility to incorporate the promotion and continuous improvement of environmental issues within our purchasing strategy and to work to ensure that our papers derive from ecologically sustainable sources.

Paper purchasing guidelines that we have been pursuing informally have been reviewed and are now published in this paper procurement policy. However, we appreciate that action needs to go beyond policy documentation and so we aim to maintain a close dialogue with all interested parties and to encourage our suppliers both in the responsible use of natural resources and in the adoption of the FSC forest certification scheme (to provide an assurance of legal and well managed timber).

Paper procurement: background information

In 2007, 2008, 2009 the majority, but not all, of our b/w books were on FSC grades. However, in Jan 2010 and 2011 we secured deals with our paper mills to enable us to use FSC paper on 100% of our b/w demy, royal, A format and B format titles.

Cover board and jacket paper used on titles produced in the UK is FSC certified.

For our colour titles, the paper is sourced and supplied by the printers. All colour books manufactured in Europe and in China are also on FSC stock.

All colour printers are required to provide full details of the supplying mill plus associated timber certification details. Trees from ancient and endangered forests, tropical hardwood forests, high conservation value forests must not be used for the manufacture of our papers and we do not use any paper/board manufactured by an APP mill or, indeed, by any other mill with any links (sourcing or commercial) to Indonesia.

FSC Chain of Custody

For direct paper purchases we have FSC chain of custody certification - the first consumer publishing group to be awarded the certification.

The FSC Chain of Custody tracks timber through every stage in the supply chain from the forest to the final user. All Random House Group titles that are printed on FSC paper will carry the FSC logo and consumers are able to buy FSC certified books secure in the knowledge there is a third-party verified system in place that ensures the sourcing of the wood. The award of Chain of Custody demonstrates the Random House Group’s commitment to environmentally and socially responsible forest management.

Nick Cliffe, Director FSC Working Group said:
“We are delighted with the news that the Random House Group has gained FSC certification, clearly demonstrating their commitment to using paper from well-managed forests. By taking this step they remain at the vanguard of sustainable paper procurement in the UK publishing sector and can offer independent assurance to all their readers that they support responsible management of the Worlds’ forests.”

Paper procurement – policy standards

• We make every effort to ensure that the papers used in our books are made from trees that have been legally sourced from well-managed and credibly certified forests. Our preference is for FSC certified wood fibre.
• Trees from ancient and endangered forests, tropical hardwood forests, high conservation value forests must not be used for the manufacture of our papers
• We do not use in our books any paper/board manufactured by an APP mill or, indeed, by any other mill with any links (sourcing or commercial) to Indonesia.
• Papers must be commercially appropriate for our titles.
• The logging and paper manufacturing processes must conform to the environmental laws and regulations of the countries of origin.
• Logging and paper manufacturing processes must also recognise sustainability issues, social and environmental.
• Paper mills must be able to demonstrate viable and audited systems to ensure “legal” timber and that timber does not come from ancient and endangered forests.
• We encourage the use of paper with maximised post consumer recycled content when practically and commercially viable.
• We support the standards established by the FSC that promote environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management and that provide an assurance of legal and sustainable timber.
• Paper mills must have EMS/ISO 14001 accreditation.
• We support and encourage the chain-of-custody system to show that wood comes from FSC certified forests.
• We support initiatives to improve transparency on sustainability issues in the entire paper supply chain.
• We support all on-going forest protection discussions that seek consensus resolution through dialogue with all stakeholders.
• These standards will be reviewed annually.