Regional press industry improves its environmental standards

Ireland's publishers, wholesalers and retailers, including the regional newspaper sector, have joined forces for the first time ever to agree a new set of environmental standards as well as a new code of practice designed to introduce greater efficiency and cooperation within the Irish press industry. All ten key industry stakeholders were represented at the Custom House in Dublin recently as the new Environmental Standards for the Press Industry (ESPI) and the new Code of Practice for the Press Industry (COPPI) were formally launched by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley TD. The launch commits Irish publishers, wholesalers and retailers to a series of challenging environmental and management standards and targets. In addition to improving the environmental performance of Ireland's 'paper chain', the new protocols will also help to ensure the continued free flow of information in this country. "These two sets of protocols are designed primarily to make the Irish newspaper and magazine industry more efficient," said Frank Cullen Chairman of the Joint Industry Committee, who presented the two new codes to Minister Gormley on behalf of the press industry at the launch. "They will ensure greater consistency in the way we deal with one another, particularly in relation to the supply chain, while at the same time ensuring that publishers, wholesalers and retailers meet the highest possible environment standards," Mr Cullen said. The new Environmental Standards for the Press Industry covers a range of key areas including supply management, unsold newspapers and magazines, optimum use of IT, and procedures in relation to compliance and complaints. The new Code of Practice for the Press Industry, meanwhile, commits stakeholders to a series of principles in relation to supply management, customer service, delivery timeframes and standards, invoicing, communications as well as compliance and complaints issues. Both sets of protocols will be subject to regular monitoring and performance evaluation, as well as updating where necessary. "We are proud to be at the forefront of the Irish recycling effort," Mr Cullen went on. "With the help of our press industry and recycling industry partners and most importantly the support of the Irish newspaper and magazine reading public, we have raised Ireland's newsprint recycling rate to 75%.  "A newsprint recycling rate of 75% puts us up among the best countries in the world including Holland, Sweden and Australia," Mr Cullen added. "This has not happened by accident but is the result of an ever-growing awareness of our environmental responsibilities, a lot of hard work and investment, as well as the commendable recycling efforts of the Irish people." The ten organisations represented by the Joint Industry Committee include Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI)