Publishers Association reaches 200 signatories on sustainability pledge

The UK publishing industry’s sustainability pledge, Publishing Declares, has reached 200 signatories, with the 200th being design company Muddy Publishing.

The Publishing Declares pledge was launched in 2021 by the Publishers Association and was created to raise awareness of climate change and to emphasise the industry’s role in combating the climate crisis through environmental sustainability initiatives.

Jude Gates, chair of the Publishers Association’s Sustainability Taskforce, said: “The more we in the book and journal industry can throw the might of our creativity at embracing our pledges, the more likely we are to succeed. Many companies are already starting to make significant progress towards upholding this pledge and each new Publishing Declares signatory is a step in the right direction.”

Alice Wood, the Publishers Association’s sustainability manager, said: “Every new signature is positive progress to fight against the effects of the climate crisis. As the pledge says, our ideas and stories are limitless, but the planet’s resources are not. The world needs these 200 signatories and we look forward to welcoming more and continuing our important work.”

The signatories pledge to

• Take action on climate: join the global climate effort to limit warming to 1.5°C by setting ambitious, measurable targets across our own operations and extended supply chain to achieve net zero as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest. 

• Protect life on land: protect nature and biodiversity, working with supply chain partners that are resource efficient, use sustainable materials and processes wherever possible in the content we produce, and constantly innovating to make use of new and recycled materials. 

• Strengthen partnerships: collaborate with our peers, authors, illustrators, supply chain partners and business partners to translate our climate aspirations and commitments into tangible actions to safeguard our planet for future generations. 

• Educate for sustainability: empower our colleagues to become climate literate and support them to bring that knowledge into the work that they do. 

• Advocate for sustainability: use our expertise, platform and voice to raise awareness and drive positive climate action wherever we can. 

The strategic focus of the Taskforce with its new chair is to empower signatories to work towards their climate action goals through knowledge sharing.

To sign the pledge, please click here.