Paper and responsibility

Paper has always been a very important resource for Bertelsmann. That is why we treat it with a great deal of responsibility.

Paper remains an important resource
Even in an increasingly digital media world, “hands-on” books and magazines will continue to be a fixture of daily life. People who like to read won’t want to miss the feeling of immersing themselves in a bestseller on the couch or at the beach, or of browsing a favorite magazine while on the go. Paper remains an extremely important resource for Bertelsmann, which is why we treat it with a great deal of responsibility.

Chain of custody
Our Random House and Gruner + Jahr divisions are paper buyers, and as such, they decide what kind of paper to use for their products. This allows us to exercise direct influence regarding the natural resources used – while also taking financial considerations and customer wishes into account. But even in circumstances where Arvato and Prinovis’ printing operations cannot directly make decisions about the origins of the paper their international clients purchase for their printing, we are committed to encouraging discussion on the subject of environmentally -friendly production and processing methods with our business partners. We do this by providing dedicated and responsible consulting to our customers. Our efforts start where it all begins: in the forest, with the commitment of Bertelsmann companies to sustainable forestry.

We buy our paper only from suppliers who can prove they obtain their resources from life-cycle oriented, sustainable forestry. Papers purchased and used by Bertelsmann should not be made from wood harvested from primary forests or other forests that merit protection. For this reason we support all efforts aiming for greater transparency in the paper value chain, specifically including reputable certificates attesting to sustainable, responsible forestry practices. In dialog with our customers, suppliers and service providers, we push for greater availability and use of credibly certified papers.