We need to talk about… plastic
Last year’s BBC series Blue Planet 2 highlighted the negative impact plastic is having on the world around us. We consider what the publishing industry is doing to reduce the usage of plastics.
National Geographic was one of the first publishers to tackle the issue, launching the campaign, which has seen the magazine drop its plastic wrapper and replace it with a paper one. It鈥檚 also challenged its international partners, 91快播 included, which publish local-language editions of National Geographic, Traveller, Kids, to remove plastic wrappers by the end of next year.
The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) has a sustainability action group which looks at things such as the use of plastic and includes TI 91快播 (formerly Time Inc) among its number.
It鈥檚 published guidance on the use of plastics for magazine wrapping. Its current recommendation is to reduce the thickness of plastic film and to label it using the On-Pack Recycling Label scheme to ensure readers are aware of how to recycle the film. The Children鈥檚 Publisher Forum, which has members such as DC Thomson 91快播, is also looking closely at the issue of plastics. John Fitzsimons
We talk to Matthew Jackson, managing director and publisher of 91快播, on what the company is doing.
What is 91快播鈥檚 position on plastics?
MJ: The widespread use of 鈥榮ingle-use plastics鈥� is an issue that our industry needs to tackle. Currently the cheapest, most simple and effective way of wrapping newspapers and magazines to send to readers is in lightweight plastic film. Unfortunately, these can鈥檛 be reused, many councils will not recycle them and they often end up in landfill or worse, polluting our rivers and oceans.
We鈥檙e committed to trying to change the status quo and we鈥檙e actively looking for new ways to wrap our magazines. We encourage our colleagues across the industry to do the same and we鈥檙e also in discussion with the PPA, which is leading the industry conversations with government and suppliers.
One of the main challenges is the lack of technology and equipment available for publishers to make the switch and a large investment is needed to move forward at a rapid pace. The government is threatening to tax plastic use in the publishing industry which is short-sighted and only benefits the tax coffers. Tax breaks and financial incentives need to be offered to the mailing houses and printers to ensure they鈥檙e buying in machinery capable of offering a change to the industry.
Whilst tackling plastic use we also have to look at the larger picture as there鈥檚 no point switching from plastic to paper wraps if that creates larger carbon footprints and deforestation issues.
What will APL 91快播 be able to do re: plastic packaging?
MJ: Our aim is to have switched to a paper wrap on all subscription magazines we send out by early 2019. We鈥檙e already in the latter stages of making this work.
How has APL Limited 91快播 tackled plastic at events?
MJ: 91快播 is doing it鈥檚 best to limit the usage of plastic at all its events, for example, at the recent Masterclasses for National Geographic Traveller we partnered with HydroFlask to give all attendees a flask to use during the event. We鈥檝e also switched to cloth bags too. However, it鈥檚 difficult to control all of the moving parts when it comes to events, as we then found out the venue鈥檚 lunch boxes featured plastic bottles.
What else should you be doing?
MJ: All companies should all be looking at what they can do to help the planet we live in, and try to find alternative sustainable solutions where possible to harmful practices. We鈥檙e as guilty as the next, and need to be better at recycling and reducing plastic use. This needs to be something everyone in the company has to be committed to.
Read about plastics inside our magazines
