Visitors to my Dr Midas website will have noticed that I have included lots of details on conservation issues affecting Madagascar - especially deforestation.
If my books are ever published I'd like them to be printed on FSC paper - (Forest Stewardship Council) certified which means sourced from responsibly managed forests. Happily more and more publishers are turning to green printing methods.
J.K Rowling, Philip Pullman and Michael Morpurgo are just three children's authors who have promoted greener publishing and its working.
Over 40 per cent of the UK book publishing industry has now introduced ancient forest friendly paper policies - including Random House, Harper Collins, Penguin, Egmont Press and Bloomsbury. Penguin even have Penguin Wood - a 96-acre site in Derbyshire developed in partnership with the Woodland Trust.
Greenpeace is a lead campaigner in getting the book industry to stop sourcing paper from ancient forest regions and move towards using 100 per cent ancient forest friendly paper. Belinda Fletcher, head of their forest campaign welcomed the news that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows would be printed on FSC paper. She said: "The fact that Bloomsbury is using a mix of recycled paper and paper from well managed sources means that Harry's magic will be actually helping to protect the world's ancient forests. Animals who depend on these forests - like the wolverine and flying squirrel - will be hooting their support from places as far away as Finland and Russia."
Now Dorling Kindersley books (DK) have announced they are publishing their greenest books yet with four 'Made with Care' titles. They are using the most ethical and environmental processes they could find for 'earth matters' a children's encyclopaedia on the environment; 'make it!' showing children how to make things from old rubbish; 'green babycare' and 'grow organic' but hopefully other titles will follow.
The firm are using FSC paper - so for every tree used another is planted - and their paper mill recycles 91% of the water needed in the manufacturing of the books. They have also ditched book jackets and use recycled card for their hardbacks.
DK use a German printers which has reduced its carbon footprint by 52% since 1994 and generates 100% of its own electricity and they use energy-efficient binding, more environmentally friendly glues and non-hazardous vegetable dyes for ink.
Gary June, Dorling Kindersley's Chief Executive, said: "Climate change is the single biggest issue facing our planet today and we all need to take action - be it corporately and individually. With Made with Care we've made a good start: it provides us - and hopefully other publishers -with a best practice example of how green and clean books can be produced in the future. Plus it also gives both adults and children an opportunity to be environmentally inspired while making an ethical purchase."
Julia Young, Manager, WWF-UK Forest & Trade Network, said: "The WWF UK Forest & Trade Network looks out for great leadership in reducing our impact on the world's forests, and the wider environment. Dorling Kindersley's 'Made with Care' initiative is a fantastic undertaking in our view, really making sure that with these books – you truly are getting a better read."
These books are not only planet-friendly in production and content but they look great too and best of all DK has partnered Book Aid International, so everytime someone buys a 'Made with Care' title on Amazon, DK will donate a children's reference book to a child in another country.
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