Martha Stone, who manages the "Shaping the Future of the Newspaper" project for WAN-IFRA, urges participants to implement strategies for green production.
The following are some of the measures that publishers should take:
Use natural lighting where possible; otherwise use energy-efficient light bulbs. Remind employees to turn off lights, install timers, or use automatic light shut-off systems. When replacing carpet and chairs, choose furniture made with recycled materials.
Use reusable dishes, such as ceramic and glass, instead of plastic and paper. Use native plants and landscaping in green areas outside the building to save water and control dust and soil runoff. Plug electronic devices into power strips that don't consume power when they are turned off, and watch energy bills plummet. Talk to suppliers about greener options – find out where they get their resources.
When replacing old vehicles, consider hybrid options. Even if some hybrids are more expensive to purchase, they can save money in the long run while reducing emissions. Set minimum fuel efficiency policies and replace non-fuel-efficient vehicles.
Make sure recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass and metal are available in appropriate places throughout your building, such as next to copy machines and in break rooms. Encourage employees to conserve resources, by printing on both sides of paper, for example. When buying new equipment, assess lifetime energy consumption and related costs.
How energy efficient is your printing facility? Find out if you can eliminate excessive consumption of energy from overheating, lighting areas that are not being used, draughts, air leaks and other support systems. To create internal transport efficiency in printing facilities, minimising workflow distances through best-practice operating procedures can increase efficiencies, while maintaining roll and fork lift trucks can lower energy consumption.
Ensure that regular preventative maintenance is being conducted on machinery to ensure everything is running efficiently.
