The PGN exists to help reduce publishers’ environmental impacts through information sharing, the development of best practice guidelines and carbon footprint reduction commitments. The PGN complements, and collaborates with, the BA/PA Environmental Action Group (EAG). Membership is free and is open to anyone, regardless of position or department across all UK publishing houses.

Background

The group was established by four members of different publishing houses in summer 2007: Ashley Lodge, HarperCollins (Chair); Beka Cohen, National Portrait Gallery Publishing; Toby Sawday, Alastair Sawday Publishing and Helen Coyle, Hodder & Stoughton. The first meeting was held in October 2007.

25 different publishing houses are currently represented ranging from the largest UK publishers such as Hachette Livre, HarperCollins, Random House and Penguin through to smaller publishing houses such as Earthscan, Templar Publishing, Imago and Insight Guides.

Meetings

Quarterly meetings focus on a particular issue, are based on case studies and are geared to producing concrete outcomes. At the first meeting in October 2007 the key areas of concern to members were identified as follows:

  • energy reduction and carbon offsetting
  • staff engagement
  • paper, glues and inks
  • waste management
  • suppliers
  • packaging

Further Information

Any requests for further information should be emailed to the Chair, Ashley Lodge, at green.guru@harpercollins.co.uk

Publishers Association 29B Montague Street, London WC1B 5BW Tel: 020 7691 9191

Booksellers Association 272 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1BA Tel: 020 7802 0802