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HC goes carbon neutral

14.12.07

HarperCollins has claimed it is the first major trade publisher in the UK to become carbon neutral, after reducing its carbon footprint by 8% over the past year and investing in carbon offsetting.

HC says that its carbon footprint for the year to end-July 2006 was 9,713 metric tons of CO2 equivalents. After focusing on reducing its electricity and gas consumption, cutting business air travel and curbing fleet mileage, its carbon footprint for the year to end-July 2007 dropped by 8% to 8,977 metric tons of CO2 equivalents. The footprints were measured by ICF International for 2006 and by Clear Carbon Consulting for 2007.

Parent company News Corporation also invested in a portfolio of wind energy projects in India that reduced an amount of carbon from the atmosphere equivalent to HCUK's unavoidable emissions. Other environmental moves for HC this year include replacing plastic cups with glasses, appointing a full-time corporate responsibility manager, and moving Fourth Estate’s titles across to 100% recycled paper.

The publisher said it would continue to work to lower its emissions. In July this year it entered into a contract to source green electricity from 100% renewable sources, which it said would have a "significant impact" on its carbon footprint next year.

"While we’re still just at the beginning of our environmental journey, I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve made," said c.e.o. and publisher Victoria Barnsley. "We’re all tremendously proud to make our operations carbon neutral but are well aware that the hard work doesn’t stop here. We are committed to further reducing our own impact and will continue to seek out popular and commercially successful books that address these issues."

 

HarperCollins Victoria Barnsley Carbon neutral

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