Establishing Vision, Principles and Policy

This sample stewardship policy will help illustrate a long-term vision, articulate key principles and demonstrate commitment to sound stewardship to internal staff and the external supply chain. It is an important tool to translate philosophy into action by setting specific objectives to achieve over time. As more and more publishers create these policies, paper companies and printers will respond by developing more environmentally responsible papers at cost competitive prices. To get started, just insert your publication's information into the following sample policy. We will help you tailor the policy and specific goals to your company's individual needs.

Insert short background on publication here.

Paper is an integral component of our organization, and we are aware of the impact that paper production and consumption has on the environment, communities and human health. We also recognize that paper is one of the top expenses of the publishing industry, and must therefore be sourced and managed in an economically responsible way. The purpose of this stewardship policy is to lay out the objectives and goals of publication name with regards to the use of environmentally responsible paper and sustainable production practices, and to define the measures we will take in order to ensure we are doing all we can to minimize our environmental impact. We realize the success of this policy rests on our ability to continually evaluate our goals and strategies, and to communicate our desire for environmentally responsible paper and sustainable production processes to our supply chain. It is also crucial that we work cooperatively with our supply chain, organizations such as The Better Paper Project and other publications using good paper in order to drive innovation and development of additional environmentally preferable papers and sustainable production processes.

Part of our over-arching plan is to attain a standard in which our paper use has no negative environmental or social impact, and whose production will ultimately be a part of a remediation process. Our success depends in part on our ability to engage our supply chain as partners in this effort. Without their support and cooperation our campaign for environmentally responsible paper use and production will be significantly more challenging. Therefore, we pledge to begin using our purchasing decisions as a catalyst to stimulate environmentally responsible paper production.

We recognize that there are limits imposed by the current paper and pulp market with regards to the availability, quality, and cost of environmentally responsible paper. While we understand that there are market factors we cannot completely control, we are committed to doing all we can to continually use the best possible paper, and will work to maximize the sustainability of our paper and production processes in the following ways: using fiber efficiently and economically; procuring environmentally responsible paper; encouraging cleaner production processes; communicating goals and achievements; and, working with allies to foster change in the magazine industry.

I. Using Fiber Economically and Efficiently

Publication name will aim to use fiber economically and efficiently through source reduction. Less pressure is placed on forests because less fiber is used. In addition, using less fiber is more cost effective, resulting in a reduction of freight transportation and distribution costs. Publication name will work with our paper supplier to increase its fiber efficiently by researching and incorporating some if not all the following changes:

• Using a lighter basis weight
• Reducing trim size
• Improving newsstand sell-through rate
• Responsibly managing office paper use
• [Stated objectives must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

II. Procuring Environmentally Responsible Paper

Publication name will seek to maximize the use of post-consumer fiber and total recycled content in our paper purchases by encouraging our suppliers to increase recycling capabilities and content in their products. [Must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

Publication name has a preference for FSC-certified virgin fiber, and we will use FSC-certified fiber whenever possible and will work to promote harvesting processes that meet FSC standards through communications with our supply chain. [Must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

Publication name understands that agricultural residues can be a viable alternative to tree fiber, and we are committed to encouraging their development and exploring this option for our publications when it becomes feasible. [Must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

III. Encouraging Cleaner Production Processes

Publication name recognizes that clean and efficient production can significantly decrease the negative environmental impacts and threats to human health. Therefore, we are committed to researching, and when possible, implementing ways we can address the following issues:

• Chlorine. Chlorine compounds are commonly used to whiten/bleach paper, but they combine with organic molecules to form dioxin, a known human carcinogen. When dioxin enters the environment, it contaminates the soil, water and our food supply. Publication name understands there are alternatives to chlorine bleaching that are available, such as hydrogen peroxide and UV. We aim to use processes that whiten our paper without any chlorine compounds, such as Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) and Totally Chlorine Free (TCF)
• Coatings. We recognize that uncoated paper is the most environmentally responsible choice, and that coated paper can involve VOC emissions and uses a great deal of energy. If we are unable to use an uncoated paper, then we are committed to avoiding a sealing coat and choosing a coating that is VOC free
• Inks. Publication name understands that standard petroleum based inks are harmful to the environment and human health. Printing with agri-based inks (soy, vegetable) is a viable alternative to the traditional inks. We want to explore these options
• VOC Recovery. If/when agricultural based inks are not available to us, we understand that printing facilities can reduce emissions through “control and capture” technology, and we will share this information with our printer to determine its viability.
• [Stated objectives must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

IV. Communicating Goals and Achievements

Publication name recognizes the benefit of promoting environmental awareness with our audience, advertisers, and the magazine industry. Therefore, we will publicly promote our environmental commitment by:

• Displaying our post-consumer content/total recycled content on our publication mastheads
• Use the FSC-certified logo when appropriate
• Display our commitment to the environment on our website
• Occasionally run ads that promote recycled paper and sustainable production processes, and how publication name is committed to preserving forest ecosystems
• [Stated objectives must include specific percentages for both short and long term goals]

V. Working with Allies to Foster Change in the Magazine Industry

Publication name will continue to work with the Better Paper Project and other publications using good paper in order to drive innovation and development of additional environmentally responsible papers and sustainable production processes.

For further information, please contact:

Magazine/Publication Contact

Better Paper Project Contact