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Sustainability
Thinking and acting for the planet underpins all our work
Every individual, company and organisation must consider the role they have to play in combating the climate emergency.
As a publisher, our most important role is through the books we publish and their power to change minds and behaviour. Alongside our role as a publisher, it's also vital that we consider how we can innovate and improve to reduce the environmental impact of our own operations.
We are also founding members of Publishing Declares, committing to industry-wide collaboration on climate action.
How we're taking action
To reduce our own environmental impact, from forest to bookshop, we have three key commitments:
Journey to zero
We are already climate neutral in our direct operations, and will be climate neutral in our global value chain by 2030.
Our most significant carbon footprint lies in our global value chain, in particular because of the energy intensive production process required to make paper in a paper mill. You can read a detailed breakdown of our carbon footprint here.
Sustainable sourcing
We will ensure 100% of our paper and other core materials are ethically and sustainably sourced.
100% of the paper we use to make our books is Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) certified – the hallmark of excellence in sustainable paper sourcing.
FSC™ is the only wood certification scheme endorsed by WWF, Greenpeace and the Woodland Trust. Certified forests must meet a range of best-in-class standards, ensuring harvested trees are replanted or allowed to regenerate naturally. FSC™ also safeguards forest biodiversity and local communities.
Content
We will use the power of our brand, books and authors to amplify the climate emergency and encourage positive behaviour change.
We have a proud history of publishing vital and wide-ranging content in this space, from globally renowned thinkers like Naomi Klein and David Wallace-Wells, to books which help people make practical changes in everyday life. More recently we have established a dedicated environmental publishing imprint with David Attenborough, Witness Books.
Explore Penguin's environmental publishing
Every individual, company and organisation has a role to play in combating the climate emergency. At Penguin, our most important role is through the power of our books and authors to change minds and influence behaviour.
We have a proud history of publishing change-making books in this space over decades, from visionary thinkers like Naomi Klein and Tim Flannery, to books which help readers make practical changes in everyday life. More recently, we have established a dedicated environmental publishing imprint with Sir David Attenborough, Witness Books.
