How to be green

Sonja Klug, Cedar's environmental manager

The pressure to be green is growing. According to a Price Waterhouse Coopers survey, 79 per cent of people expect to companies to withdraw environmentally damaging products. Greenwashing isn't an option either — an Ipsos Mori poll showed that 80 per cent want to see companies' ethical claims properly backed up.

Here at Cedar we also know that we need to prove our green credentials. So far our most significant contribution is the use of FSC or PEFC paper (paper from sustainably managed forests). It's something we're very proud of — and which most of our clients now also insist upon.

But we're also on the lookout for new developments. The quality of recycled paper is on a par with virgin paper and its production uses a lot less energy, so we use it when we can (some limitations still remain). The use of biodegradable polywrap is also on the up, although we're still researching as to whether it is actually better for the environment than plastic (it uses more energy to produce and releases more CO2 when decomposing). Like most things in life, being green isn't always straightforward.

All of this is part of our ISO 14001 certification, an audited environmental management system that ensures we do the best we can for the enivronment. Continual improvement is part of the system, so we're always seeking new initiatives — if you have any ideas, we would certainly like to hear them.

It might all seem like a lot of work, but I honestly believe that there are great opportunities in being green. Not only does reducing energy and resources consumption save money, but many heads of industry predict that the next economic growth area is going to be green products and sustainable development. And publishing will certainly be a part of it.

Sonja Klug is Cedar's environmental manager