Positive Power of Principled Profit
Volume 3, Number 6—March, 2006

Positive Power Spotlight: New Society Publishers Goes Carbon-Neutral

New Society Publishers (NSP), an activist press focusing on sustainability and social change, claims to be the first publisher in North America to become carbon-neutral.

Based in Gabriola Island, British Columbia NSP purchased 213 tons of carbon offsets in 2005, to counter the 213 tons of emissions its consumption of paper, fuel, and electricity, and generation of garbage, added to the atmosphere during 2003.

In a press release describing this accomplishment, posted to CSR Wire on May 31, 2005, NSP noted that its emissions came from "paper (140 tons), flights and couriers (65 tons), trucking and vehicle travel (7 tons), fuel for heat and power (0.75 tons); and garbage (0.14 tons)."

The company made a contribution to Tree Canada, to plant 182 trees, countering 106 tons of NSP's emissions. The remaining 107 tons was offset by a contribution to the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), of Washington DC. SELF builds solar electric lighting systems for villagers in countries such as South Africa and Bhutan, replacing the use of kerosene, which is not only a carbon-producing fossil fuel but also extremely unsafe.

The carbon-neutral movement is gaining momentum. Both The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia and the 2006 Superbowl have pledged carbon neutrality, as have actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Jake Gyllenhaal.

"NSP's emissions analysis was done by climate specialist Guy Dauncey, author of the award-winning book Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change (New Society Publishers, 2001). Mr. Dauncey is himself carbon neutral, offsetting his personal emissions each year, a habit he shares with Hollywood stars.

"Mr. Dauncey has also developed a guide called "Going Carbon Neutral - A Guide for Publishers" that can be used by any publisher in the world to help them do the same (free from www.newsociety.com).

NSP claims a history of environmental firsts. In 2001, the company became the first publisher in North America to preserve forests by printing all their books on 100% post-consumer recycled, non-chorine bleached paper, saving over 6,000 trees and reducing CO2 by 112 tons a year.

Another Recommended Book: "Lean and Green" by Pamela J. Gordon

Next time your boss tells you "we can't afford to be environmentally sensitive," you'll be fully prepared to rebut that claim if you've read "Lean and Green: Profit for Your Workplace and the Environment."

This well-written strategy manual for people in major corporations shows how companies like IBM, Louisiana Pacific, Polaroid, and even the city of Santa Monica, California have become much more profitable through environmental responsibility. While most of the savings are smaller, some instances have saved as much as $100,000,000--by rethinking as well as redesigning. The payback periods ranged from a few months to several years, but all of them were ROI-driven decisions that were good for both the environment and the P&L statement.

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