Monique Gilham, Hasna Hanim and Inaara Imran

How has the process of book printing evolved to accommodate environmental challenges within the Australian publishing industry? And what are the remaining barriers preventing eco-friendly onshore printing?

Keywords: Australian Book Connection, Australian printing industry, ISO 14001 certification, offshore printing, onshore printing, Penguin Random House (PRH), printgraphics, traditional/offset printing

Introduction

As global awareness of climate change and its ecological impact grows, the Australian printing industry is increasingly working on ways it can adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Historically, in the Australian printing landscape, there have been many roadblocks to implementing eco-friendly practices. This research explores what barriers exist and what evolutions and innovations have been introduced to combat them. We compare the print practices of a major publishing house, an independent printer and a print broker to present a well-rounded understanding of how sustainability efforts and initiatives have evolved and the eco-friendly methods within reach of the Australian printing industry today.

Despite the existing body of literature, substantial gaps in research remain. For example, many industry reports and articles highlight the issues regarding sustainable printing principles but lack follow-up case studies that evaluate actual outcomes. Furthermore, the available data is often outdated or anecdotal, and comprehensive studies that monitor long-term impact of instigated changes are rare. There is a notable lack of verified data and limited transparency within the industry, particularly concerning how companies adapt their environmental processes over time.

The financial barriers to sustainable practice are compounded by the Australian publishing industry’s dependence on offshore printing, which can provide advantages such as lower costs and closer proximity to global markets. Overall, these factors hinder Australian printers’ competitive advantage. Unless they reduce their costs, they won’t be able to maintain commercial viability.

Among smaller Australian publishers, the lack of financial capacity makes it difficult to implement eco-friendly changes. With the absence of government subsidies, the high cost of sustainable materials and technologies prevent small publishers from adopting them into their practices. While there is a willingness to engage with these sustainable practices, the financial realities make the shift difficult. This economic disparity establishes a bifurcated system in which larger, more financially robust publishers can adapt to the evolution into sustainable practices, while smaller companies fall behind.

Institutional and systemic responses to sustainability are also inconsistent. Sustainability is seldom mentioned in industry analyses, except when pressured by consumer concern. This demonstrates that environmental responsibility is not a widespread priority within the industry due to concerns such as economic barriers. Without strong legislative incentives and support, as well as regulatory pressures, many companies may be unable to prioritise this issue.

Nonetheless, some industry players have taken a proactive stance. Penguin Random House (PRH) has a sustainability action plan that outlines internal measures such as greater awareness of the negative environmental impacts of inks and dyes and the use of sustainable packaging.

In summary, the Australian book printing industry is in a transitional phase with regards to environmental sustainability. Larger organisations have started implementing internal policies and adopting technologies like PoD, while smaller players remain hindered by financial and logistical constraints. Lack of legislation, offshore competition and fragmented data prove to be additional barriers for cohesive progress. Yet examples from within Australia and overseas suggest that more sustainable printing is possible through innovation, collaboration and strategic support. To push the industry forward, further research, investment and policy alignment will be required to develop isolated efforts into standard industry norms.

Case study: Australian Book Connection

As a means to understand how book printing has evolved to accommodate environmental concerns, an interview was conducted with Paul Murphy of Australian Book Connection (ABC), a print broker based in Victoria. ABC functions as an intermediary between its customers (cultural institutions) and offshore printers. It oversees the production of premium illustrated books for museums, galleries and independent artists—and has a network of offshore printers with whom it can engage, depending on the specifications of the product. ABC also functions in an advisory capacity for customers, providing information on best practices for illustrated books, including eco-friendly best practices. . As it works with printers and clients alike, it is a good authority on sustainability in book making, its evolution and the constraints which hinder eco-friendly onshore printing.

Evolution of environmentally friendly practices

There are a number of ways in which the book making process has evolved to accommodate environmental challenges. The biggest factor in transforming bookmaking into a more sustainable venture has been the advent of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system, which ‘enables businesses and consumers to choose wood, paper and other forest products made with materials that support responsible forestry’. As a result of FSC-grade materials, several key components of a book are now sustainable, such as the paper itself, the thread used to stitch the paper together and even the cardboard used for the book cover, says Paul Murphy in our interview in 2025.

Chinese factories must now supply FSC-grade materials because the big publishers demand this standard, as attested to in the HarperCollins commitment to sustainability, ‘The paper used in HarperCollins books is 99.7% certified SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) or FSC’, and Penguin Random House Australia’s Sustainability Report: ‘100% sustainably sourced paper that’s FSC-certified (or equivalent)’. As a result of these international standards for environmental practice, ‘Chinese factories have to have these standards for big publishers to work with them’.

Additionally, soy-based inks are being used by some offshore printers instead of the traditional, solvent-based inks, which release emissions that are harmful both to human health and the environment. This means that all inks on premium illustrated books can be removed from the books before they are discarded. Lastly, a biodegradable substitute for plastic shrink wrap has been developed and is currently in use. When books are packaged for distribution, they are protected just as well by biodegradable shrink wrap as traditional shrink wrap, although biodegradable shrink wrap is made from materials like potato starch and other plant-based polymers.

Print on demand (PoD) technologies are also frequently cited as a more environmentally conscientious alternative to traditional mass printing. By allowing books to be printed as needed, PoD reduces waste from unsold stock and minimises transportation emissions. However, due to its high initial costs, while there are efforts to adopt PoD and other digital solutions, they are not yet widespread enough for it to shift the overall environmental impact of the sector.

Barriers to eco-friendly onshore printing

Having explored sustainable innovations in printing, it is equally important to examine why these processes are not yet widely being adopted by the Australian publishing industry. According to Paul Murphy in our interview, at every juncture of the book printing process, Australia lacks the necessary resources required to produce a premium illustrated book.

Australia does not manufacture its own paper. The Black Summer Bushfire season of 2019 saw approximately 8.5 million hectares of forest affected. This was compounded by the closing of the Opal Australian Paper mill in 2023, which subsequently ended the production of white pulp and paper manufacturing in Australia. In addition to these two events, according to Murphy, Australia doesn’t produce the ‘correct grain product’, which is a type of book spine that allows an illustrated book to ‘open flat on the table’. Australia instead makes ‘cross grain product,’ meaning that if a customer turns the pages of a premium illustrated book, they will not stay flat and stand up like a V—a quality that does not meet the required standards. Finally, the only company nationally that carries out bookbinding, Marvel Bookbinding, has a limited number of staff. Murphy adds, ‘if you go to your local bookstore, 98-99% of the illustrated books in that store will be printed offshore…very few books are printed locally’.

As a result of these factors—the paper monopoly combined with the smaller industry—options for printing illustrated books in Australia are limited both in material quality and cost efficiency, making offshore printing the most obvious choice for the majority of illustrated publishers in Australia.

Evolution of environmentally friendly practices

Offshore printing isn’t synonymous with wastefulness. Contrary to popular belief, the experience that Australian Book Connection has had with producing books offshore has demonstrated that it can be a more efficient process, with all parts of the book production localised within a small radius.

‘If you try to be “sustainable” and print locally, you’ve got to bring the paper from China, put ink on the sheet in Sydney, put it on a truck, drive it to the binding company in Melbourne, then you have to drive it back to Sydney in a truck. It’s an environmental catastrophe. If the paper comes from China, put ink on it in China, bind it in China, bring it to port…and distribute from there.’

It is evident that sustainable book production is not solely dependent on geographic location but also on the efficiency of production processes. While the Australian publishing industry faces significant material and logistical limitations that hinder onshore eco-friendly printing, international standards—such as FSC-certification—have driven positive change in offshore operations. Rather than viewing offshore printing as inherently unsustainable, a more nuanced approach is needed—one that evaluates the full lifecycle including production and transportation. Until Australia builds the infrastructure and supply chains needed to support high-quality local printing, the most environmentally responsible option may continue to be well-regulated, sustainability-conscious offshore production.

Case study: Penguin Random House

As a major figure within the publishing industry in both a global and local context, PRH Australia has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainable practice in Australia. It must be noted that PRH Australia is in a more comfortable position than any independent publisher and printer when it comes to resources and capacity, not only to introduce but also to successfully sustain more environmentally conscious choices in printing.

PRH Sustainability Story

CEO of PRH, Julie Burland, said in an interview with us that the biggest step to implementing widespread sustainability practices across production is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and ultimately achieve PRH’s target of becoming climate neutral by 2030. In addition to using fully carbon neutral, 100% recycled materials for any in-office printing and administrative paper used in-house, PRH exclusively uses 100% sustainably sourced paper overall, either through ‘FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) or SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative) accreditation’.

Since 2021, PRH’s annual reports, entitled ‘Our Sustainability Story’, have reported the most important facts and figures regarding the company’s overall carbon footprint and sustainability initiatives. Through the reporting process, PRH was able to identify that inbound and outbound freight, as well as printer operation and printer materials, were the highest carbon emission contributors. Freight activity was contributing 63% to overall emissions. In the earliest sustainability report available, published in 2021, PRH reported that emissions were down by 51% since 2018, in large part the result of COVID-19 interrupting regular production rates. Thus, the total carbon footprint of 2021 was 22,234 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). The following year was down by 3%, equating to almost a thousand tonnes, and by 2023, that amount has dropped a further 12%, accumulating 18,733 tonnes of CO2e emissions. This is a 58% reduction since 2018.

PRH’s most recent report cited a 6% decrease in printing related emissions since 2018. This puts the total CO2e amount produced by printing alone at 4,938 tonnes by the close of 2023—26% of the company’s overall emissions. The 2022 sustainability report had a primary focus on ‘localising the supply chain’ by expanding PRH’s PoD service to ensure 2,700 US titles would be printed locally in Australia. This move has significantly lowered freight costs and emissions, meaning that Australian printings of US titles will no longer be printed abroad. Additionally, 2023 saw PRH trade the shrink wrap used to encase the Young Adult reader sets for cardboard casing instead. While this doesn’t sound like a major move, it resulted in removing 1,425kg of potential plastic.

The same year, PRH reported its decision to remove lamination from the covers of all advanced reader copies of new adult books to further reduce material usage and guarantee they can be recycled. The next step is to ‘reduce coated paper usage in picture books,’ seeking sustainable alternative such as ‘vegetable inks’. In addition to a commitment to ‘offset any remaining emissions’ that it can’t reduce, PRH has set a 50% reduction goal by the end of this year in both Scope 1 emissions—meaning any direct GHG emissions from stationary and mobile combustion sources—and Scope 2—referring to indirect GHG emissions from imported energy. The action plan also includes utilising a ‘sustainable design guide for books and covers to ensure [PRH] reduce the environmental impact of each and every book’.

Looking ahead, PRH is committed to conducting ongoing audits of paper mills and printers to continue lowering its environmental impacts. Arguably still a large contributor to the overall industry’s combined carbon footprint, it appears PRH is aware of the importance of environmentally conscious practice within book production. PRH is an industry leader in Australia when it comes to initiatives to reduce emissions, as evidenced by the reporting efforts, such as the choice to replace heavy use of sea and air freight with a partial localised supply chain.

Case study: Printgraphics

The printing industry, traditionally associated with high consumption of natural resources and large waste generation, has a significant role to play in driving sustainable change. This case study focuses on the Melbourne-based printing company Printgraphics and the evolution of their sustainable practices within the Australian commercial printing landscape. Through its ‘Printgreen’ philosophy, the company values a culture of ethical decision making. Printgraphics is a great example of what it entails to be a truly sustainable printing partner.

Background and early influences

Printgraphics’ sustainability philosophy started before such initiatives were standard practice. Founded by Ray Keen in the late 1970s as an architectural model-making company, it soon pivoted to printing as the demand for printed materials surged in Melbourne and beyond. According to Nigel Quirk, a senior member of the Printgraphics team, Keen noticed the large amount of waste generated from the production process and wanted to find a way to manage it. These observations in the early days of the company generated a long-lasting commitment to environmental sustainability that would be a guiding principle of Printgraphics for decades to come.

Self-initiated sustainability: the birth of Printgreen

Printgraphics’ Printgreen initiative emerged organically, unlike many that may have shifted due to regulatory pressures and client expectations. Quirk notes that industry expectations had little to do with the change being implemented, rather that ‘from the outset, it was probably our initiative that started it’. These company values led to the discovery of alternatives such as better waste handling, cleaner materials for production and transparency during its processes. These initiatives were well underway before they became industry expectation. What started as a simple examination of waste management evolved into a large-scale operational philosophy.

ISO 14001 certification

The ISO 14001 certification, ‘the international recognised standard for environmental management systems (EMS)’, was a transformative process for Printgraphics. Although it was achieved prior to Quirk joining the company, he described it as a fundamental restructuring effort that made sustainability a systematic effort across departments. ‘Especially for a smaller company, you need to structure the processes around it,’ he explained. This certification helped Printgraphics align with FSC-criteria and environmental responsibility measures.

With the ISO 14001 and FSC-certifications came the obligation for consistent growth and improvement. Each year a set of environmental performance targets are set, reviewed and refined at Printgraphics. One recent target involved the transition of its fleet of company cars to electric or hybrid vehicles. According to Quirk, as of 2025 this goal has been fully accomplished. Improved energy efficiency and intentional purchases that prioritise environmental performance are some other targets that Printgraphics has addressed.

Technological evolutions: from film to in-house CTP

Printgraphics’ technological evolution included the shift to in-house computer-to-plate (CTP) systems, which noticeably reduced energy and water usage. ‘We went from using film to outsourcing plates, to eventually bringing it all in-house around 2005,’ said Quirk. This allowed for faster adjustments if errors occurred and gave the company more control over environmental outputs. Recent purchases, such as high-efficiency presses, are evaluated mainly on energy and water consumption to reduce emissions when it comes to energy consumption.

Material circularity and 14-stream waste management

Printgraphics’ granular attention to material circularity is a unique facet of its sustainability model. The company’s 14-stream waste management system guarantees that every input, including ambiguous items like rubber press blankets—used in offset printing to improve quality of printing with less ink bleeds— is considered. For example, it repurposes these blankets through a partnership with a playground surfacing company. This process is a reflection on its near-zero landfill ethos. ‘We don’t take anything to the tip except one residential bin,’ Quirk added.

Communicating sustainability to clients

Printgraphics actively communicates its sustainability journey with clients. One approach was a printed promotional piece that highlighted the company’s sustainable practices and material standards to show what was possible with sustainable print. Rather than increasing costs for clients, Printgraphics highlights where sustainable practices are already embedded in standard production, debunking the assumption that green printing is always more costly.

Future sustainability goals

Quirk also mentioned that the installation of solar panels and securing an electric or hybrid delivery truck are two goals that Printgraphics hopes to achieve within the low emissions plan. While financial considerations remain a barrier to immediate implementation, negotiations for a long-term lease are in progress, meaning solar integration is on the horizon for 2026. The transition into electric or hybrid options for their 12-tonne truck may follow in 2027 or 2028, once it becomes more economically feasible for the company.

Findings

Despite having similar end goals of making the Australian publishing industry more sustainable, each case study illustrates a different way to achieve this. PRH has taken a data-driven approach by analysing the emissions that each of their activities generate, to determine the areas where the most emissions are produced. The results of these analyses have led PRH to deliver action in corporate offices, in freight transportation, and in materials for printing.

Conversely, Printgraphics’ approach to sustainability is ethos-driven, as its operations have always been built upon the philosophy of material circularity and the prioritisation of environmental performance. The offshore printers with whom ABC engage have been motivated to incorporate sustainable practices from a place of necessity, as they must adhere to international standards in order to be a viable option for international clients.

Both PRH and ABC talk about different approaches to offshore and onshore printing. PRH believes bringing printing into Australia will offset the freight costs and emissions enough to become more sustainable, while ABC believes the Australian infrastructure is currently not equipped for onshore printing. Until the infrastructure is improved it would be more cost effective to print offshore and import the printed books.

Although PRH’s sustainability action plan is produced by a major industry player, it does offer tangible examples of sustainability initiatives that could be replicated by other organisations. BookPeople also offer practical recommendations, including reducing freight emissions, using biodegradable laminations and increasing onshore printing.

The standard of waste management and circularity at Printgraphics’ highlights that it is committed to implementing as many sustainable practices as possible. PRH’s commitment to carbon neutrality, transparency of reporting and evolution of practices to accommodate environmental concerns demonstrates that it is making significant progression towards a sustainable operation. ABC’s facilitation of relationships to offshore printers that uphold sustainable practice indicates that premium illustrated books are being produced in a sustainable manner.

Each company focuses on different aspects and if they were able to combine some of these practices in other companies and parts of the industry we might be one step closer to a sustainable publishing industry. Although this will be difficult to implement, nationwide legislation might make this easier. Communication between small and big publishers would also help bigger publishers to implement sustainable practices. Right now the smaller publishers have an advantage in terms of implementing strategies to stand out and create a reputation, but they lack the funds to implement bigger practices.