Sustainability & climate
1 book = 0.6 kg of carbon dioxide
That's how much we release based on 2022 operations. For 2021 operations, the figure was 0.7 kg of carbon dioxide. In other words, a real improvement that we are very happy about. We calculate our climate footprint together with independent Climat Hero every year and set up a plan to reduce further. We are changing our operations at the same time as climate compensating the part we have not managed to remove to 200 percent. We follow international guidelines and the GHG protocol.
Swan-labelled printing companies
Since 2019, we only print at Nordic Swan certified printers. The books are printed primarily in Riga and market materials in Sweden or Denmark. In our books, you can see which printing house that particular book was printed at. We work with printers who also want to change in the direction we want, everything is so much easier then. Printing at a printing house that is certified by an independent operator is important to us. This is how we want to run the climate work, together and transparently with our partners.
With recycled paper we save 1000 trees
We are pleased to offer books printed on recycled paper from 2022. By using recycled instead of new, we leave approximately 1,000 trees per year standing and capturing carbon dioxide. But is it not possible to compensate for the climate and plant new trees instead? No, it doesn't work because it takes too long for the new trees to capture as much carbon dioxide as the ones already standing there can. That's why recycled paper is so good! A circular way of thinking for a sustainable world.
Our goal = net zero in 2030
In addition to analyzing our emissions once a year, we work hard to reduce our emissions. We place high demands on ourselves and also on our partners. Reaching net zero by 2030 is not something we can do by ourselves. But together with illustrators, authors, printers and distributors, we will make it. What we have not yet been able to remove, we compensate with 200%, just as the international GHG protocol says. For 2021, we bought 80% climate compensation in Gold Standard projects and 20% biochar.
Renewable energy
We work hard to find fossil-free deliveries of our products, whether it is between Riga and Sweden or from our warehouse out to our customers. For meetings and trainings, we travel by public transport and above all by train. If we have to go by car or taxi, we choose them with renewable fuel. We also work actively for our partners to use fossil-free energy, from printers and distributors to illustrators. We have also worked to get the Swan to include renewable energy as a criterion in its certification.
Food and climate are connected
Ever since the beginning, we have had vego in our books. From the beginning because we cared about the animals and because we wanted to challenge the meat norm. Today we know that food and climate are connected and that we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by eating vegan. Starting in 2022, we communicate which food is in the book using VEGO or VEGAN. That way it will be easier to find. Have a nice meal!
Debate for sustainability
As a small business, we depend on those we work with, from paper manufacturers, printers and distributors to freelancers such as digital developers, writers, photographers and illustrators. If we are to create sustainable books and reach net zero carbon dioxide, we must work together, and everyone must do their part. One step on the way is to create awareness of what a sustainable book can look like. Join the debate and make demands on the producers too!
Agenda 2030
It is difficult to talk about sustainability without also talking about Agenda 2030 and the 17 goals that the UN has set. The goal is to create a more just, sustainable and simply better world. It is only together that we can eradicate poverty, stop climate change and create peaceful and safe societies.
