Scholastic has set a five-year goal to increase its publication paper purchase of FSC- certified paper to 30% and its use of recycled paper to 25 percent, of which 75 percent will be post-consumer waste.The increase in the use of pcw fiber will result in a reduction of 23,988,000 lbs in green house gas emissions compared to fiscal year 2006, as calculated by the Environmental Defense Paper Calculator. The new policy also includes a commitment by Scholastic to help educate children about responsible environmental practices.
“Scholastic’s environmental purchasing policy will set the bar for publishers, and its goal of ensuring that 30 percent of its paper supply is FSC-certified by 2012 will help create more demand for paper from responsibly managed forests,” said Tensie Whelan, Executive Director, Rainforest Alliance. Rainforest Alliance, the Green Press Initiative and other environmental organizations consulted with Scholastic on the initiative.
Scholastic also launched a “green” website for kids.
In other publisher news, Simon & Schuster recently announced plans to increase the level of recycled fiber in its purchased paper to 25 percent or more by 2012.