MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
November 15- November 22, 2007 Edition
Simon & Schuster
Launches Environmental
Initiative and Paper Policy
NEW YORK, NY/11/7/07–Simon & Schuster, Inc., announced today a new environmental initiative and paper policy that will dramatically increase the amount of recycled fiber in the paper used to manufacture its books. For books printed and bound in the U.S., the company plans to increase to 25% or more the level of recycled fiber in its purchased paper by 2012, a 150% increase from a current 10% baseline level.
Simon & Schuster purchases approximately 70,000 tons of paper annually, with 70% of that paper containing some recycled fiber content. At current production levels, the shift to 25% recycled fiber will result in the saving of approximately 483,000 trees annually and a reduction of nearly 85 million pounds in greenhouse gases equivalent to pulling 7,600 cars off the road each year.*
Simon & Schuster will endeavor to eliminate the use of paper that may contain fiber from endangered and old-growth forest areas. It has set a goal that by 2012 at least 10% percent of its purchased paper will derive from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). While there are many widely recognized standards of forestry management, FSC is considered by environmental advocacy groups to be the most stringent of sustainable forestry management certifications. Simon & Schuster is believed to be the first major trade publisher to include an FSC target in its environmental policy.
Simon & Schuster is making additional commitments to green publishing, including the purchase of shipping cartons made from 100% recycled post-consumer paper (the company expects that it will purchase 1.2 million cartons in 2007), the recycling of all inventory destruction as mixed-use paper, the use of recycled office materials, and other energy efficient practices in its offices and distribution facilities. These supplement the companys ongoing efforts to carefully manage print runs and distribution, and to exploit the increased use of digital means for the production and distribution of content.
The complete Simon & Schuster paper policy, plus details of other environmentally friendly actions in its publishing practices, offices, and distribution facilities, can be viewed online at www.simonsays.com.
In undertaking this initiative, Simon & Schuster has communicated its environmental goals to its suppliers and manufacturers, and is committed to monitoring and tracking its efforts and progress on an annual basis.
Simon & Schuster UK is expected to follow suit with a similar environmental policy.
We are committed to publishing in a manner that both respects the environment and helps preserve the worlds great forest regions for the use and pleasure of future generations, said Jack Romanos, President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster.
Carolyn K. Reidy, who will become President and CEO of Simon & Schuster in 2008, added: We look forward to working with our vendors and partners in the supply chain, and our colleagues at other publishing houses and in other industries to create a robust marketplace for recycled fiber, to encourage responsible forest management practices, and to continue to find ways in which we can have a positive impact on the environment.
Simon & Schusters new eco-friendly paper policy was developed a group of executives led by Joe DOnofrio, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain; Karen Romano, Vice President, Director of Production and Manufacturing; and Ann Ralph, Director of Paper Purchasing, with the input and support of the Green Press Initiative, an environmental advocacy group, and in consultation with Simon & Schusters many paper and manufacturing vendors.
