Environmental statement
First and foremost, we are open to suggestions about how to reduce our environmental footprint while maintaining our core business of publishing books, software, and teaching materials. If you have suggestions, please write to sales@cascadilla.com.
This page is a working draft started on April 16, 2007, and last updated on March 5, 2022.
Book production
Like most publishers, we outsource book manufacturing (printing and binding). That means we do not have direct control over many aspects of the environmental impact of book manufacturing, though we can specify certain materials.
Reduce print quantities by offering web access: We have developed Cascadilla Proceedings Project, which offers free web access to many of our books. Titles offered this way are printed in far lower quantities, while readership is increased.
Reduce print quantities by using smaller print runs: We are taking advantage of digital production to print many of our books in smaller print runs and ordering reprints as needed. This has greatly reduced the printed surplus on many titles. True on-demand printing is the logical extension of this approach, but the binding quality of on-demand printing is not yet adequate for long-term use.
Reduce impact by eliminating proof stages: We have moved the RIP process in-house for all titles, which allows us to skip printer proofs.
Reduce impact by switching to digital printing: We have switched most of our book runs to digital printing. Digital printing eliminates a lot of chemicals and solvents used in ink and washup on offset presses, reduces the number of extra printed sheets run during startup of an offset print job, and most importantly allows smaller print runs.
Areas for improvement: Film lamination on paperback book covers is necessary to make the cover durable, but makes the cover difficult or impossible to recycle.
Discarding computer equipment
Current information: When components break, we repair or upgrade them. We do not send used computers, monitors, or printers to landfills; they are sold, donated for reuse, or sent for recycling.
Areas for improvement: We could dispose of working surplus equipment more quickly. If someone else can use our surplus computer or printer instead of buying a new one, that is good for the environment.
Shipping
Current information: As of March 2022, we ship almost exclusively with the US Postal Service, and we receive print runs via UPS, FedEx Ground, and LTL trucking. Our software is delivered electronically, eliminating shipping for that category. We have moved proof stages and most rights forms online, greatly reducing mailings from authors to us.
Shipping materials: We receive a lot of shipping and packing materials, almost all of which we save and reuse if it is not too damaged. Most of our outbound shipping materials are cardboard boxes and paper which are reusable or recyclable. The only plastic we use outbound is bubble mailers for software, foam sheets for padding books, occasional bubble wrap (most of which is reused), and plastic air pockets (all of which is reused).
Batching package shipments: We do this when possible, but we do not want to delay shipments to customers.
Package pickup services: It is far fewer vehicle miles for a USPS or FedEx driver to take a small detour to pick up our packages than for us to take packages to the post office or FedEx location. Except for time-sensitive shipments, we have shifted most of our shipping to scheduled pickups.
Open questions: How can we encourage people to reuse or recycle the packaging materials they receive from us? Can we identify customers who will accept a delay in shipping to allow us to batch shipments?
Printing in the office
Current information: As of March 2022, we have reduced our in-office printing to approximately 10,000 to 20,000 pages per year on laser printers. This includes printing book proofs, advertising materials, invoices, and internal business documents. We have standardized on a 100% recycled lightweight office paper.
Reduce: We generally print proofs double-sided, reducing paper usage. We have shifted some proof stages on-line, reducing paper and toner usage.
Reuse: We keep some single-sided proofs to reuse for taking notes or creating our receipt notebooks (required for tax purposes).
Recycle: We have two categories of paper trash: large amounts that are being discarded at one time (such as completed book proof stages or shredded paper), and smaller amounts of paper being discarded throughout the day. Large piles are recycled. Used toner cartridges are returned to office supply stores for recycling. Larger quantities of paper recycling, including damaged print runs, are brought to North Shore Recycled Fiberts in Salem, MA. (They provide an easy drop-off for paper recycling: drive onto the scale, check in at the desk, drive to the drop-off point to unload, and drive back onto the scale to pick up a weight receipt.)
Electricity usage
Lighting: Our primary workspaces use natural light and LED lights. We use a timer with an automatic shut-off for lighting in our inventory storage, and scheduled power-offs to our office printers.
Computer printers: For output quality, we use laser printers which take much more power to operate than inkjets. There is very little in-office printing we could switch to inkjets.
Computers and peripherals: We leave most equipment on to allow overnight backups and to avoid startup delays. Schedules shutdowns have caused too many problems in the past, so we do not use any at present.
Climate control: In the summer, we use a mix of fans, air conditioning, and dehumidifiers. Air conditioning is the worst environmental offender, but frequently necessary during the summer in Massachusetts for keeping temperature and humidity at reasonable levels (protecting our people, our computer equipment, and our books). Our room air conditioners are Energy Star rated, which is a small comfort. The biggest area of improvement for us will come from improved Energy Star standards, since our summers are not likely to get a lot cooler.
