Sustainability

At Hachette US Distribution, we’re committed and focused to reducing our overall use of energy, as well as sourcing our energy sustainably.

Our Commitment to the Planet

At Hachette Book Group (HBG), we are committed to sustainable publishing practices and responsible use of natural resources. Our environmental policy sets ambitious, measurable goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of recycled and responsibly sourced fiber, and minimize our environmental footprint across all aspects of our business.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint: The “30/30 Strategy”

In 2022, HBG’s parent company, Hachette Livre, launched the “30/30 Strategy”, a bold, Group-wide decarbonization plan developed with climate consultancy Carbone 4. This industry-first initiative aims to reduce global carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

The strategy includes Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions:

Scope 1 & 2 (3%): Direct emissions from vehicles, buildings, fuel, and electricity use.
Scope 3 (97%): Indirect emissions from paper manufacturing, printing and binding, shipping, and end-of-life disposal of books.
Key reduction targets by 2030:
Overproduction: 30% reduction in shredded/unsold books
Paper: 26% reduction in carbon intensity of paper manufacturing
Manufacturing: 18% reduction in carbon intensity of printing and binding
Freight: 1% annual reduction in upstream freight and 1.5% in downstream freight

Initiatives include optimizing print runs using data, prioritizing suppliers with lower emissions, reducing air freight, promoting local production, and consolidating shipments.

All Hachette businesses, including HBG, contribute to this comprehensive strategy, which is monitored annually and fully integrated into our global environmental roadmap.

Reducing Usage

Reducing energy usage

Infrastructure

We have converted 100% exterior lighting to LED and approximately 90% of our main DC interior lighting to LED.

Our bulk storage area is fitted out with motion activated lighting and goes into sleep mode with no activity.

Conveyors are only activated while in use and shut down after no activity to conserve energy.

All forklifts and machinery are highly efficient electric models.

Transport

We enforce a “no idling” policy for truck drivers waiting for loading or unloading.

We utilize Boxsizer machines to cut, fold and seal our outbound cartons down to size, reducing carton cubing and maximizing trailer space.

Plastics

We converted our carton fill from a polyurethane foam pillow to a greener paper solution.

We enforce strict inbound specifications that do not allow plastic air bags or Styrofoam materials to be used as void filler.

Cardboard

Our cardboard is either 100% Forest Stewardship Counsel (FSC) certified, or 100% Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) certified.

Our packing paper is 100% FSC certified.

90% of our packing paper is made from 100% recycled material, with the remaining 10% is made from virgin fiber.

All cardboard and paper material used is 100% recyclable.

Wood (pallets)

Working with our pallet partner, they ensure that every used pallet entering their facility is recycled in its entirety.

Pallets in a usable condition are repaired and reused; all broken boards are repurposed into eco-friendly landscape mulch or animal bedding. Sawdust generated from sawmills is used in place of fossil fuels to make dry pallets which heat their facility.