Hachette Book Group gave a progress report on its ongoing mission to reduce the company's environmental impact:
In 2014, the last year for which data is available, Hachette's carbon footprint rose by 9% thanks in part to a 20% increase in ground product transportation--that is, the printing and shipping of more books (representing a different kind of green). Despite 2014's increase, Hachette met its goal of decreasing its carbon footprint by 50% from a baseline set three years prior. Other carbon footprint indicators fell in 2014: 20% in copy paper, 19% in mail transportation, 12% in business travel and 6% in employee commuting.
Hachette's use of Forest Stewardship Certified paper held steady at 90.5%, just above their original 90% goal. Sustainable Forestry Initiative materials usage rose to 9.2%. Between FSC and SFI, 99.7% of Hachette's paper comes from certified fiber, up 2% from 2014 and beyond their original goal. Use of recycled fiber rose 1.5% to 10.5% of overall paper use, still below Hachette's 20% goal. The company also keeps in close contact with its paper mill partners over their adherence to environmental guidelines and proper pulp sourcing.
Energy use reduction efforts yielded a 70% drop in energy consumption in Hachette's New York office in 2015. That office also used 90,000 fewer pages of printer paper than the year prior. The New York office is LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Certified and the Boston office is LEED Gold Certified, thanks in part to energy efficient LED lighting.
"With continued focus on our green targets, we made good progress last year, particularly with recycled and certified papers, energy consumption in our offices, and reaching our goal for carbon footprint reduction," said CEO Michael Pietsch. "It's encouraging to see this steady momentum. As a division of Hachette Livre, a global company that holds social and environmental responsibility as one of its core values, we are committed to making Hachette Book Group as environmentally responsible as possible."
