Responsible management of the paper cycle
From supply to production and ending with the management of returns, the Lagardère group works with all its trade partners involved at every stage of paper cycle management.
Over the years, initiatives to ensure traceability and monitor the paper grades purchased by printers have significantly reduced the proportion of untraceable fibres used in publications and/or ensured that no fibres resulting from deforestation activities are used. Since 2016, a dual verification programme for fibres from Asia has been launched, initially in the United States and then extended to all entities in France, the United Kingdom and Spain.
Optimising paper consumption is also a central concern. Lagardère Publishing has adopted a number of initiatives to limit paper wastage during the production process. Adjusting the format of publications is another way of optimising book production.
Print-on-demand technology has also helped to reduce paper consumption, while limiting greenhouse gas emissions linked to production, storage and transportation. This technology is currently being rolled out in France, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the catalogue of available works was extended further in 2020.
With regard to the circular economy (waste prevention and recycling), managing unsold material represents one of the biggest environmental priorities for the Lagardère group. At Lagardère Publishing, unsold copies of books are either stored or pulped. To address this issue, the division is gradually rolling out automatic reprinting tools that will eventually enable publishers to have the right number of books in stock at all times.
The paper cycle
The main raw material used to make paper is wood, which is a renewable resource. The wood is processed into a pulp which is used to make reels of paper. The reels are shipped to the printer to be made into books, magazines and newspapers. Once used, these products can be collected and recycled to be used as a raw material for the production of recycled paper pulp. This virtuous circle helps to instil a circular economy mindset at the Group.