At Cambridge University Press we recognise that we have a responsibility to the environment and to future generations, to manage and continually improve our environmental performance at every stage of our operations.

We recognise that our activities, products or services may have an effect on the environment. It is our aim to reduce that effect to a minimum, by implementing an effective system for managing our environmental impact.

By regularly assessing the significance of our interactions with the environment, we will set objectives and targets relating to our operations. In particular we will continually strive to:

• Prevent or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants
• Minimise consumption of natural resources and energy
• Reduce, reuse or recycle wastes
• Meet or surpass applicable regulatory and other requirements
• Adopt best practice guidance in our operations and activities where feasible
• Promote our environmental policy among our employees, our suppliers, our customers, our local community, our University and others in our industry.

This policy applies to all Cambridge University Press's activities, products and services and is reviewed on a regular basis.

Environmental Achievements

Here are some of the things we’ve achieved at the headquarters of Cambridge University Press and the University Printing House in Cambridge, England.

Carbon Trust Standard 2012

In 2012 we were awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for the second time, having made a 15% reduction in carbon emissions over the previous two years in the UK, against a target of acheiving a reduction of 2.5% a year. The Carbon Trust Standard is recertified every two years following stringent evaluation.

Carbon Trust Standard 2010

Cambridge University Press has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of the work we have done in measuring, managing and reducing our CO2 emissions. Achieving the standard also demonstrates our commitment to reducing carbon emissions year on year. For more information about the Carbon Trust Standard, click here.

Business in the Community Award (BITC) 2009

Cambridge University Press UK won the Business Team Volunteering award for the East of England.

The volunteers were recognised for devoting almost 1,000 hours to helping community projects and causes in and around Cambridge under the Press’s ‘seven hours scheme’. The scheme allows staff to devote seven paid hours per year to charity or community work.

The 140 University Press volunteers have:

• Worked on wildlife projects in and around Cambridge with the Wildlife Trust (the Press is their first educational partner in this region)
• Supported local schools with literacy, numeracy and other subjects
• Taught English to unaccompanied refugee children in Cambridge
• Acted as guides and leading children’s activities at Cambridge University’s Science Festival and Festival of Ideas

Green Apple Award 2008

Cambridge University Press headquarters in the UK received a prestigious Green Apple Award in 2008 in recognition of its achievements towards helping the environment.

The Press won in the printing and publishing category and as a ‘Green Champion.’

The prizes are awarded by the Green Organisation, which is supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution of Waste Management, the Municipal Journal and several other UK professional bodies.

First prize in the 2008 "Environmental Magazine, Newspaper and Book Publishing Award" category at the Quality in Print Media Awards

The Press was honoured with the award due to its impressive record of implementing, or already having achieved, many green initiatives.

The judges said: “Cambridge University Press’s attitude is not just talking about improving its green credentials, but actually doing, or having done, something about it.”

The judges were impressed by the Press’s 11% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2007, a year in which we also recycled 92% of waste. Other initiatives that drew praise included: the purchase of alcohol-free presses; the use of vegetable based inks for 90% of inks used; the car sharing and pool bike schemes; and the 500% increase in the number of FSC titles.

Compliance with ISO 14001:2004

As of September 2007 the UK Printing and Publishing operations of Cambridge University Press are registered to ISO 14001:2004, the standard for environmental management.

ISO14001:2004 is the internationally recognised environmental standard for an environmental management system (EMS). Implementation involves everyone in the organisation, from board level down to the shop floor, and all aspects of the organisation that could affect the environment are thoroughly vetted by professional external auditors. Cambridge performed far beyond environmental compliance in matters such as the minimisation of waste, recycling of various types of materials and an overall reduction of costs and inefficiencies, and because our EMS makes greater use of materials already purchased and reduces waste disposal and energy costs, this has had a direct impact on our bottom line, too.

Achieving this standard not only sets Cambridge apart from our competitors, it has helped improve our environmental performance in every respect.

Other Achievements

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
• We are also able to offer B1 waterless printing which eliminates the use of alcohol on site. (Alcohol is one of the most environmentally hazardous chemicals used in printing.)
• In our warehouse a compressed air baler helps us to recycle plastic more effectively.
• In our offices paper, compostable waste and plastic cup recycling is conducted throughout.
• We are the world's leading publisher on climate change; click here for a range of titles.
• We were chosen to publish The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review, and printed it on paper made entirely from recycled post-consumer waste. (The Stern Review was the winner of the Political Studies Association’s Political Publication of the Year Award 2007.)
• We are also committed to the immediate local environment in Cambridge. Currently in 2012 over 150 employees travel to work by bicycle each day and many more walk from the nearby rail and bus stations. Recent improvements to site access now enable colleagues to walk and cycle directly into work from the footpath and cycleway alongside the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway.