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So why don’t all companies use green paper? Cost and supply are typically the reason. Since no coated eco-friendly papers are produced in the prairie provinces, the cost of shipping can be prohibitive for smaller publishers. But that is not always inevitable, says Ken Squire of Transcontinental Printing, the largest commercial printer in Canada. “The best way to overcome this [perception of added costs] is to consult with your print representative.” A leader in going green, Transcontinental instilled an environmental policy in 1993, and more recently, introduced a Paper Purchasing Policy in collaboration with MI that promotes recycled post-consumer fibres over virgin wood fibre. All of its plants use VOC- (volatile organic compound) free solvents, and more of its plants are becoming FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified each year—the printers chain of custody assures the paper trail stays intact, and that pulp for FSC certified comes from sustainable sources. Teldon Print Media has also been FSC certified since 2005 because environmentally conscious customers in Vancouver kept pressing for alternatives to traditional paper. The employee-owned company also recycles metal plates and press blankets, inks and chemicals, and will plant a tree for any company who goes to them for a green assessment. Marketing & Sales Support Specialist Aimée Brown says that in many cases, added costs of going green are quickly recovered. She cites a client whose reader base was so eco-conscious that its bottom-line would have been negatively effected had they not gone green. The future is looking decidedly verdant. MI, along with the Alberta Research Council, is working with paper mills in the prairies to create a market for paper with agricultural fibres. For example, wheat straw and flax are by-products from food production that would otherwise be burned. “It’s long, strong, and actually takes less energy to pulp than virgin tree fibre,” says Neva Murtha, Magazines Campaigner for MI. While the demand for eco-friendly papers in Alberta is certainly present, there are challenges to overcome, such as the lack of ‘ag-res’ pulping technology here. The hope with the agricultural residue pulp trial is to stimulate investment in infrastructure. To further support the trial’s goals, Murtha recommends that Alberta publishers “develop policies that give preference to papers with agricultural fibres in it.” For those who have yet to jump on the green wagon, take heed: “It’s a trend that’s not going away. It’s becoming mainstream,” affirms Murtha. Incremental steps can make a huge difference, but it’s about taking them in the first place, no matter how small they may seem. “Everyone needs to do what they can.” Find out how Alberta magazines are going green. See what the following magazines are doing and how you can help. Alberta Venture, FreeFall, Homeschooler’s Guide, Unlimited, techlife, WHERE Edmonton, WHERE Calgary. www.albertamagazines.com.
Show Your Green Streak!
As a reader and concerned global citizen, there are many ways you can help. Though market demand for green paper is growing, much work is still to be done. So go on. Spread the word that green is not only good, but necessary. 1. E-mail publishers and editors urging them to look into alternatives to virgin fibres. At the very least, it will spur dialogue between publishers and suppliers, and create a positive feedback loop. 2. Write to your MLA and MP about the importance of green projects by organizations such as Markets Initiative. Investment in infrastructure is imperative, and this can’t happen without dollars. 3. Show your support with your own green. For small publishers, it can be difficult to eat extra green costs. Show them you’re willing to pay extra magazines printed on green papers. 4. Research. Admittedly, going green can be overwhelming. It’s important to stay informed and do your research. You have to go on a case-by-case basis. Find out about different types of paper and what they mean, here. 5. Recycle! Recycled paper, especially post-consumer papers, requires fibres to be recovered from the paper we use daily. Canada ranks 25th in the world for recovering fibres with just over 40 percent of paper being recycled. Compare that to top-ranking Korea’s intake which is double that. 6. Be patient. Mills are undergoing restructuring and consolidation, so the best thing to do is to support eco-paper initiatives. Your support and voice are key to driving and supporting changes in the industry. |
Check out the details of these great events, and more, at our Events page. April 29, 2008 - The Poetics of Stuttering in Calgary May 1, 2008 -
FreeFall Summer Launch May 3, 2008 - Family Fun Fair May 31, 2008 - Calgary Education Fair June 2 - 4, 2008 - MagsU June 4 - 6, 2008 - MagNet June 6 - 8, 2008 - Editing in the Global Village June 19 - 20, 2008 - Magazines West
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Job Opportunities
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It has new-car sheen. It feels smooth between your fingers. Ah, glossy magazine paper. Our love for the printed page is longstanding—as is the problem of scarcity concerning where said pages are sourced. The unfriendly truth: the paper mill industry in North America still sources virgin pulp fibres, oftentimes from ancient and endangered forests. In fact, more than 70 percent of all paper comes from ecologically diverse forests instead of tree farms, and only 20 percent of the world’s intact forests still exist. But there is some good news. Markets Initiative (MI), an environmental organization that advocates for the development of eco-friendly paper to protect Canada’s ancient and boreal forests—along with a growing number of paper producers, publishers and printers—is working to change that.
