Scholastic Canada | Green Initiatives

About Scholastic About Scholastic

Green Initiatives

STATEMENT

At Scholastic Canada, we care about the future and the preservation of Earth’s natural resources. As a publisher and distributor of children’s books, one of our goals is to educate and inspire young people to actively pursue environmentally friendly choices. We also feel that it is our responsibility to lead by example. Every part of our organization is committed to demonstrating our respect and concern for the environment. We do this on a daily basis in the decisions we make and the actions we take, be it through office recycling programs, improved warehouse practices, or leadership in paper procurement policies. In these and other ways, we hope to help ensure that this and future generations of children can learn, grow, and prosper in a healthy world.

Please refer to the glossary at the end of this document for abbreviations and terms used here.

PRACTICES

GENERAL

Revised February, 2021

  • We are careful to select suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in source reduction and pollution prevention to minimize their environmental footprint, including the use of vegetable-based inks.
  • Throughout our organization, we strive to reduce carbon emissions caused by transportation. We work with domestic paper mills and have streamlined logistics to reduce our carbon footprint. Over 90% of our printing (including promotional material and books) takes place in Canada.
  • We work with virtual proof-to-press (softproofing) with as many print vendors as possible to reduce paper use in the production process. We continually research sustainable and responsible sourcing options whether it be paper, biodegradable plastics or cloth bags to reduce waste. We try to procure paper containing Post Consumer Waste whenever possible.

TRADE

Revised February, 2021

We work with domestic paper mills and have streamlined logistics to reduce our carbon footprint.

Promotional Materials

  • Catalogues: 100% are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and print on Post Consumer Waste paper whenever possible. All of our catalogues are recyclable.
  • Displays: Displays are created to be multi-purpose and are retrofitted to accommodate new product. Header boards are customized using Header Stickers rather then creating new Header Boards for each promotion. All of our displays are recyclable.
  • Bags: Paper or cloth bags are used whenever possible. Plastic bags are only used for samples, and since 2008, they have been produced from oxo-biodegradable plastic.
  • On a case-by-case basis we look at the end-use of each product, and we seek to reduce waste.

Book Printing

Revised February, 2021

  • We only work with FSC-certified printers.
  • We are improving the number of book titles printed on FSC certified paper with recycled fibre wherever possible. In some cases, there are technical limitations and availability constraints on book-quality recycled paper stock.
  • We supply environmental impact statements on copyright pages as space permits.
  • When packaging is necessary for our products, we use oxo-biodegradable plastic or FSC-certified stock.

BOOK CLUBS

Reviewed August 2023

  • We print our student news flyers on FSC-certified paper.
  • We work locally: we print our flyers in Canada, and our paper is sourced domestically, thereby limiting shipping and minimizing our carbon footprint.
  • We continually update our databases, thereby increasing accuracy and reducing waste and duplicate mailings.
  • Book Clubs packages are sealed in bags made from oxo-biodegradable plastic. These bags may be recycled where plastic bag recycling facilities exist.
  • Every component of the Book Clubs kits mailed to schools, including packaging, plastic binding, staples, and the flyers can be recycled.

BOOK FAIRS

Revised August 2023

  • Our marketing materials are printed on FSC-certified paper, with a minimum of 10% PCW wherever possible.
  • Our consultants verify a school’s enrollment and grade levels before a Fair so that accurate quantities are provided, keeping waste to a minimum.
  • Our Book Fair Promotional materials are all available online! Schools can opt to share letters, flyers, and Book Fair information via email and social media.
  • Posters are now double-sided with reading messages, so they can be used year round!
  • We encourage our customers to recycle all of our paper items and to keep Book Fair items, such as cardboard easels and table covers, for future Fairs.
  • A new routing system has been implemented to ensure fair deliveries and pickups are as efficient as possible, minimizing fuel usage and carbon emissions.
  • Our Promotions Guide is now available online only. This has eliminated a printing of over 10,000 booklets each year. Our Commission Worksheet and Evaluation Questionnaire are also available online.
  • To reduce waste and limit the use of harmful plastics, we no longer send disposable plastic tablecloths with each fair.
  • A new Prepaid Reorder resource is now available online.
  • As many of Scholastic catalogues are now available online, we have minimized the number of hard copies sent in our Kick-off Kits, saving on paper and reducing shipping needs.

EDUCATION

Revised February, 2021

We use carbon offsets for all travel by speakers and presenters to support renewable energy projects that reduce the effects of global warming.

Catalogue and Marketing Materials

  • 100% of printed resources are FSC-certified and are printed on Post Consumer Waste (PCW) whenever possible. All of our catalogues are recyclable.

Non-book Material

  • We only work with FSC-certified printers.
  • Non-book media texts are produced on long-lasting, recyclable Polyart.
  • Our packaging is created with FSC-certified paper fibers or we use plastic bags that contain 10% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable where facilities exist.
  • We offer a greater selection of online student and teacher resources through our website.

FACILITIES

Revised February 10, 2021

  • Temperature regulation in our buildings ensures 22°C when using heat and 25.5°C when using air-conditioning.
  • Blue bins for recycling cans, bottles, and paper have been installed throughout our buildings. All used cardboard is also recycled.
  • We recycle our batteries, light bulbs, and small and large electronic items.
  • Used printer and toner cartridges from our printers and photocopiers are returned to the appropriate supplier for recycling. Remanufactured cartridges are used wherever possible.
  • Our cleaners use environmentally friendly products.
  • We use an organic form of lawn maintenance on our grounds.
  • A “lights off’ policy is promoted for rooms and workspaces not in use. Sensors, timers, and LED lighting are widely used throughout our facilities.

WAREHOUSE

Revised February 12, 2021

  • All of our shipping boxes come from a responsible source and contain 81% recycled content (pre-consumer + post-consumer). This percentage changes based on the paper mill and is updated on a yearly basis.
  • Dunnage and loose paper, used to support packages, is made from 75% recycled content.
  • Warehouse lighting has been upgraded to include motion sensors on overhead lights in the bulk warehouse. Lights power up automatically when a person or vehicle enters an aisle and automatically extinguish when the aisle is vacated.

CORPORATE/EMPLOYEE INITIATIVES

Revised February 10, 2021

  • In 2019, we recycled 5 pallets - 613 kgs of technology equipment working with eCycle Solutions.
  • We encourage employees to lead a green life.
  • FSC-certified (50% PCW) office paper is used for all photocopiers, faxes, and printers in our offices and warehouses.

DONATIONS

Revised February 11, 2021

Scholastic Canada donates books to support nationwide charitable organizations and initiatives directed at special needs and at-risk students. Books are also donated to events that promote literacy. Scholastic Canada’s book donations also reach children and families worldwide through international aid agencies and disaster relief projects helping to rebuild schools and libraries across the country. Over 100,000 books in English and French are donated each year to over 1500 organizations. Remaining books that are damaged or not suitable for donation are sent to a recycling facility.

GLOSSARY

FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. To certify a paper product, the council monitors the paper-making and printing processes, from the forests to the warehouse, to ensure that they are environmentally responsible. The FSC ensures that the forests where our paper pulp comes from are well managed and sustainable, and that the printers are as energy efficient and as environmentally friendly as possible. When a paper product has an FSC logo on it, it means that it has met the FSC criteria for environmentally responsible production choices.

Oxo-degradable

Oxo-degradable plastic has been treated with an additive that stimulates thermo-oxidation. This significantly shortens the life-cycle of the bags in landfill: they are expected to biodegrade in 2–5 years with exposure to oxygen, heat, and stress.

PCW

Post-Consumer Waste refers to paper fibre created from materials such as newspapers, magazines, and flyers gathered through blue bin recycling programs. This fibre, which has already been used in one paper product, is then used to make new paper. The percentage shown in the Möbius loop identifies the amount of PCW in that product.