5.31.2005 ET

(CSRwire) New Society Publishers, an activist press focusing on sustainability issues, has become the first publisher in North America to become carbon neutral. The publisher operates from offices on Gabriola Island, British Columbia.

With the purchase of 213 tonnes of carbon offsets, New Society Publishers (NSP) has neutralized the effect of the 213 tonnes of emissions that were released into the atmosphere during 2003 as a result of the publisher's use of paper, fuel, electricity, and garbage.

"This is a great way to play our part, as we try to find ways to conduct our business in a more environmentally friendly manner," said Chris Plant, co-owner of NSP. "We see it is a fundamental component of being a socially responsible business and walking our talk."

Becoming "carbon neutral" is a new expression that is gathering momentum around the world. The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia, is planning to be carbon neutral, as well as the American Football League's 2006 Superbowl XL, to be held in Detroit.

New Society's 213 tonnes of emissions came from its use of paper (140 tonnes), flights and couriers (65 tonnes), trucking and vehicle travel (7 tonnes), fuel for heat and power (0.75 tonnes); and garbage (0.14 tonnes).

Half of the publisher's emissions were offset by a contribution to Tree Canada, which will plant 182 trees to absorb 106 tonnes of NSP's emissions.

The other half (for 107 tonnes) was offset by a contribution to the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), based in Washington DC. SELF brings solar electric lighting to villagers in countries such as South Africa and Bhutan, replacing the use of kerosene, which is a dangerous and expensive carbon-producing fossil fuel.

NSP's emissions analysis was done by climate specialist Guy Dauncey, author of the award-winning book Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change (New Society Publishers, 2001). Mr. Dauncey is himself carbon neutral, offsetting his personal emissions each year, a habit he shares with Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Mr. Dauncey has also developed a guide called "Going Carbon Neutral - A Guide for Publishers" that can be used by any publisher in the world to help them do the same (free from www.newsociety.com).

The 25-year old Gabriola Island-based publisher has a staff of eight people, and publishes 30 titles a year. Its goal as a company is "to contribute in fundamental ways to building a more ecologically sustainable and just society."

NSP has a history of environmental firsts. In 2001, they became the first publisher in North America to print all their books on ancient forest-free paper (100% post-consumer recycled, non-chorine bleached). Since then, NSP has saved over 6,000 trees with this strategy, receiving awards from both the publishing community (Publisher of the Year) and Canadian Businesses for Social Responsibility (Ethics in Action). Mr. Dauncey's analysis shows that by switching to post-consumer recycled paper, NSP prevented 112 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in 2003, since recycled paper has a smaller environmental footprint than virgin paper.

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