Penguin Random House | New Delhi, 11/13/2023

PRH India Switches To Recycled Paper

Penguin Random House India will gradually switch the production of its books to 100 percent recycled paper. The paper used for this comes from an Indian paper mill and is made from feedstock certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has committed to switching to 100 percent recycled paper in its book production. The Indian publishing group announced that the switch to environmentally friendly paper has already begun. With this decision, PRHI is underlining its commitment to reducing its own ecological footprint. “We recognize the urgent need to address the environmental challenges associated with using paper in publishing,” said Sanjiv Gupta, COO of Penguin Random House India. “We have been testing 100 percent recycled content paper for some time now, and we are not only assured of its organic source and ecological production process but also ensured that it doesn’t diminish the reading experience.” He says the decision is in line with the energy and environmentally efficient practices that PRHI has adopted over the years.

PRHI, the subcontinent’s leading English-language publishing group, sources its recycled paper from an Indian paper mill, where the paper was developed with careful attention to PRHI’s own paper and production quality requirements. The paper used is made from feedstock (raw material) certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international non-governmental organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

Recycled paper has many advantages: It is made from 100 percent waste paper and thus avoids new waste. The paper is not bleached with chlorine or chlorine compounds. This significantly reduces the amount of harmful waste produced during this process. Around 30 percent less CO₂ is emitted during the production of recycled paper than during the production of paper from fresh wood fiber, and less energy and water is consumed.

“We are adopting a measured approach with this initiative, to ensure a smooth and responsible adjustment while maintaining our standard of production,” says Ajay Joshi, Vice President, Supply Chain and Production, at PRHI, who is responsible for the transition to recycled paper. “This is a pivotal step towards reducing our environmental footprint.”