Editor’s Blog

How is PHOENIX magazine “green”?

PRINT

Since publishing our first-ever Green issue in November, many of you are wondering – and rightfully so – what PHOENIX magazine does that’s eco-friendly. After all, we just printed thousands of magazines, on thousands of pieces of paper, to tell you how to save the environment. Trust me, the irony is not lost on us. So I was proud to learn that Cities West Publishing takes the following earth-friendly steps when producing both PHOENIX magazine and Phoenix Home & Garden each month:

PRE-PRESS
CWP was among the first regional publishing companies to drop film-based production in favor of computer-to-plate technology. With our conversion to digital in 1997, we got rid of polluting chemicals, non-recyclable poly materials and residual silver contaminants found in processing fluids. And, because our pages exist in digital format, they can be transported via the Internet instead of by truck or plane, saving fuel while also reducing air and noise pollution.

In-house color processing & digital photography:
An industry-wide move away from film-based photography and into digital formats is eliminating the use of toxic chemicals used in film processing. In addition, tighter internal color control processes have resulted in more efficient use of consumables including paper, ink and toner. Also, twice daily, gas guzzling ground transportation deliveries to-and-from an offsite service bureau no longer are necessary.

Use of online applications:
Use of overnight delivery services and snail-mail has been replaced with web-based delivery solutions. Our advertisers use AdPortal, an online ad delivery system developed just for Cities West, to upload files directly to us. This easy-to-use portal reduces landfill waste by eliminating the need for paper and plastic packaging and also lowers carbon emissions through less ground & air delivery travel. Our magazine pages also are delivered to press electrically.

Online proofing:
Hard (paper) proofs are rapidly going the way of stone tablets. Most of the businesses for which we design advertisements prefer going to their computer to view ad proofs rather than using fax machines, mail or hand-delivery. This simple innovation has saved countless reams of paper, printer toner and gasoline.

PRINT MANUFACTURING
Brown Printing Company in Waseca, MN, manufactures Cities West Publishing magazines. Brown Printing is committed to being a leader in the protection of air, water and land resources through established pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling activities. Brown’s Environmental Policy Statement includes plans for the elimination or reduction in the use of toxic substances and hazardous waste.

PAPER
Cities West magazines are printed on papers manufactured by UPM Kymmeme (Helsinki, Finland). Efficiency focused, UPM is recognized as one of the top environmentally friendly suppliers of paper. Both UPM and Brown Printing have earned Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification. This means that both companies support sustainable forestry management. The goal of the FSC, an international group of environmentalists, sociologists, loggers and foresters, is to shift the market to eliminate illegal, unsustainable logging activities.

Our concern for the environment extends all the way to our corporate stationery, which is printed on Process Chlorine Free (PCF), 100-percent post-consumer fiber paper.

Cities West’s purchase of FSC-certified products and services contributes to habitat conservation through the elimination of water pollution and displacement of indigenous peoples and animals in and near forests that are logged for paper products.
For more information about the FSC, visit fscus.org/paper/

NEWSSTAND RECYCLING
From forest to newsstand, not an ounce of paper used to manufacture Cities West magazines goes to waste. Unsold copies of our books are shredded and sold to recycling companies for repurposing. All materials used to print our magazines are 100% recyclable. Although our research shows that many of our readers hold onto our magazines for many months, those who prefer to read-and-toss should aim for the blue bin.