How can books become more sustainable?

How can books become more sustainable?Paper causes the majority of the carbon footprint in the production of books, but printing and distribution also consume resources. Increasingly, publishers are focusing on sustainability. What does it take? And what role does the size of a publishing house play?

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CDU and CSU no longer want to rule out CO2 storage in Germany

The Union calls on the government to use carbon dioxide industrially to become climate neutral. In addition, the parties want to use nuclear energy longer. The CDU is in favor of storing carbon dioxide underground and processing it in industry. The party wants to achieve the German climate targets by 2045. In industry, “residual emissions” would still occur after 2045, according to a motion by the Union faction in the Bundestag, which is available to the Handelsblatt. Germany wants to be largely climate-neutral by 2045.

Specifically, the Union faction calls for a “strategy process” that clarifies how and where CO2 could be separated, transported and stored in the future – abroad and “perspectively also in domestic storage facilities”. So far, the so-called “Carbon Capture and Storage” (CCS) has hardly been possible in Germany, because the countries can ban underground CO2 storage facilities on their territory.

 

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EU agrees on protective shield for climate-damaging imports

The EU agrees on a defense system for climate-damaging goods from third countries. The decision is part of the “Fit for 55” package, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions. Additional costs are likely to be incurred for some products in the near future, including many essential ones.

 

Step towards climate protection: To ensure that the EU’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are not nullified by importing climate-damaging goods from third countries, negotiators in the European Parliament and the governments of the EU states have agreed on a so-called CO2 border adjustment system. This was recently announced by the current Czech Council Presidency…

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Choosing Sustainability Is Easier Than You May Think

The topic of sustainability is becoming more important for all business executives since environmental issues like climate change, pollution and resource shortages have a direct influence on populations and enterprises around the world.

According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Today, more than 90% of CEOs state that sustainability is important to their company’s success.” At the same time, the increasing pressure on organizations from various stakeholders—including customers, investors and employees—for reducing environmental impact also plays a key role in buying, investment and employment decisions.

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Sustainability remains one of the most important purchasing criteria

95 percent of consumers in Germany value sustainability, but a lack of information and transparency prevent many consumers from buying sustainable products. These are the key findings of the representative Global Sustainability Study 2022 by strategy consultants Simon Kucher & Partners.

In July and August, Dynata asked more than 11,000 consumers in 19 countries worldwide (Germany: n=1,001) about their shopping behavior and their willingness to pay for sustainability, among other things…

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Hostile Takeover – Carbon Farming

If it were up to the EU Commission, global corporations like IBM would soon be able to free themselves from specific climate protection measures by paying farms to incorporate organic components into the soil. Carbon farming is the new buzzword for the practice of regenerative agriculture, which is actually very old but has been neglected in the course of the industrialization of the agricultural sector, which has been inflated with artificial fertilizers. For climate protection reasons, the EU even wants to issue tradable carbon certificates in the future…

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Less increase in CO2 emissions

This year, the global increase in CO2 emissions is likely to be significantly lower than last year. While global demand for coal has increased, the expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles is outweighing demand for coal. Global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels are therefore expected to increase by just under 1 percent this year, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) released today.

 

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Sustainability: An opportunity for companies

Many small and medium-sized companies in Germany still fail to recognize the effects that the current requirements for more climate protection and sustainability are having on their business. “The need to review one’s own business model and change it in the long term is becoming more and more urgent; […] Companies are now measured by the actual implementation of their sustainability goals”, says Malte Thalemann…

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