Sustainability

We know the climate crisis is not only coming, it’s here. So we strive to make the most sustainable books possible and help other publishers do the same, because to borrow from the good people at Music Declares Emergency, there’s no publishing on a dead planet.

Here’s what we’re trying to do to be more responsible producers and engaged environmental citizens.

B Corporation Certification

Logo: B Corporation Certified.

  • In 2022, ECW became the second publisher in Canada to be certified as a B Corporation, joining a worldwide community of over 5,700 companies that make business a force for good. All B Corps meet the highest verified standard of social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability. Our 2022 assessment score is 100.8. (A business must score over 80 to qualify, and the median score for ordinary businesses is 50.9.)
  • B Corp Certification allows us to share ideas and best practices with other like-minded companies in the B Corp community and, by doing so, find ways to amplify our impact. Internally, we’ll also use our B Corp assessment to identify areas where we can improve our practices. In fact, to requalify for our certification in 2025, we’ll need to show an even better score.

Better Paper

  • Our biggest environmental impact by far comes from the paper we use. It accounts for roughly 91% of our carbon footprint. And so a lot of care goes into printing conservatively and responsively and making the best paper choices possible.
  • While it doesn’t necessarily have a lower carbon footprint, we know recycled paper keeps forests standing, allowing trees to absorb carbon and support biodiversity. It also gets a better health & safety score from the Book Chain Project. In the last five years, 70% of our books have been printed on 100% recycled paper; in the last three years, that average goes up to 84%. We’re working on increasing that number and increasing the percentage of recycled content when 100% isn’t possible.
  • 100% of the paper we use is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means trees were harvested according to strict social and environmental guidelines.
  • We’ve switched to digital Advanced Reading Copies wherever possible, and the ones we do print are printed on 100% recycled paper.

Cleaner Power

  • We’ve paid for Bullfrog Power offsets for our gas furnace since 2012, and since 2024 have also offset our office electricity and our minimal staff mileage. Bullfrog puts a corresponding amount of renewable energy into the grid to displace polluting energy.

Leading Industry Change

  • Together with New Society Publishers, ECW led the development of two industry-changing carbon calculation products: a single book calculator that allows publishers to compare the emissions impacts of various publishing choices such as paper, shipping, or printer location; and an organizational calculator that allows companies to assess their carbon footprint as a whole. These free-to-use tools are being shared with the international publishing community so publishers have the data to make more sustainable decisions. At ECW, we’ll use these tools to inform our choices going forward.
  • Our sustainability officer, Jen Knoch, is the co-chair of the Association of Canadian Publishers’ sustainability committee.

Reducing and Offsetting Travel

  • We’re more judicious about travel than ever, relying on video conferencing whenever possible. We also encourage staff and authors to take lower-carbon travel options, like the train instead of a short-haul flight. 
  • Staff are given the option to work remotely, reducing commuting-related carbon emissions.
  • While in the past we’ve purchased travel offsets through Gold Standard, we’re now following the advice of Dr. Kimberly Nicholas: instead of purchasing offsets, we’ve earmarked those funds for our future solar panels on the office roof. We’re at $2500 to date.

Education & Advocacy

  • We’re proud of our list of over a dozen titles that offer vital environmental analysis and propose better ways forward.
  • In 2022, 13 staff participated in the Talk Climate to Me program to improve climate literacy.
  • Staff are free to attend marches and other demonstrations that occur during the workday.

Bonus: The Small Stuff