In an industry that quite literally depends on paper, trees, and ink, conversations about environmental responsibility are not just important—they’re essential. At VGS Publishers, our 70-year journey has seen the printing industry transform dramatically, and in recent years, sustainability has become a central focus of our operations. This article explores the environmental challenges facing the printing and publishing industry, the steps we’re taking to address them, and our vision for a greener future.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Printing
Let’s start with honesty: printing books has environmental costs. Understanding these impacts is the first step toward reducing them.
Paper Consumption:
The publishing industry globally consumes millions of tons of paper annually. Paper production requires trees, water, and energy. While paper is recyclable, the production process still has environmental implications.
Energy Use:
Printing presses, binding machines, and other equipment consume significant electricity. Traditional offset printing, in particular, requires substantial energy to operate large machines and maintain controlled environments.
Ink and Chemicals:
Conventional printing inks contain petroleum-based components and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to the environment and human health. The pre-press process historically involved harsh chemicals for plate making and development.
Transportation:
Books are heavy. Shipping thousands of books from printing facilities to distribution centers, bookstores, and ultimately to readers involves fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Waste:
The printing process generates waste: paper trimmings, printing plates, unused ink, and defective copies. Historically, much of this waste ended up in landfills.
VGS Publishers’ Sustainability Journey
Phase 1: Awareness and Assessment (2015-2017)
Our sustainability journey began with awareness. Around 2015, we started seriously examining our environmental footprint. We conducted an audit of our operations at the Ambapuram facility, measuring:
- Paper procurement and usage
- Energy consumption
- Waste generation and disposal
- Chemical use in printing processes
- Transportation and logistics footprint
The results were eye-opening. While we were already efficient (waste means lost money, after all), we recognized significant opportunities for improvement.
Phase 2: Initial Changes (2017-2020)
Armed with data, we began implementing changes:
Paper Sourcing:
We shifted toward sourcing paper from suppliers who practice sustainable forestry. This means:
- Prioritizing suppliers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar organizations
- Choosing paper with recycled content where appropriate for the application
- Working with suppliers who replant trees and manage forests sustainably
- Reducing reliance on virgin pulp where alternatives exist
For educational books where paper quality directly affects readability and durability, we balance sustainability with function—there’s no environmental benefit if books fall apart quickly and need replacing.
Waste Reduction:
We implemented several waste reduction strategies:
- More accurate print planning to minimize overproduction
- Better inventory management to reduce obsolete stock
- Optimized cutting and binding processes to minimize paper waste
- Reusing or recycling paper trimmings
- Implementing quality control earlier in the process to catch defects before significant resources are invested
Energy Efficiency:
We began upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment and practices:
- LED lighting throughout our facility (reducing electricity consumption by approximately 60% for lighting)
- Maintaining equipment for optimal performance (well-maintained machines run more efficiently)
- Scheduling production to optimize equipment usage
- Exploring solar power options for our facilities
Phase 3: Deeper Integration (2020-Present)
As sustainability moved from initiative to culture, we’ve gone further:
Eco-Friendly Inks:
We’ve transitioned to soy-based and vegetable-based inks for many applications. These alternatives:
- Contain fewer VOCs than petroleum-based inks
- Are made from renewable resources
- Produce vibrant, high-quality colors
- Make printed materials easier to recycle (the ink separates from paper more easily)
The shift hasn’t been universal—some applications still require traditional inks for specific properties—but wherever possible, we choose eco-friendly alternatives.
Digital Pre-Press:
Modern computer-to-plate technology has eliminated many chemical-intensive pre-press steps. Digital workflows mean:
- No chemical developers or fixing solutions
- Reduced material waste
- Faster setup times (less energy consumption)
- More accurate reproduction (fewer reprints due to errors)
Print-on-Demand Technology:
Our investment in digital printing capabilities allows for print-on-demand services. Instead of printing 5,000 copies and hoping they sell, we can print smaller batches as needed. This:
- Reduces waste from unsold, outdated books
- Lowers storage needs (and associated energy costs)
- Allows for more frequent content updates
- Reduces the risk of obsolete inventory
Sustainable Packaging:
We’ve moved away from plastic shrink-wrap where possible, using paper-based packaging alternatives. For bulk shipments to institutions, we use recyclable cartons and minimal packaging materials.
Transportation Optimization:
We’ve optimized our logistics:
- Consolidating shipments to reduce trips
- Choosing more efficient delivery routes
- Working with logistics partners who have environmental commitments
- Locating facilities strategically (our presence in multiple cities reduces long-distance transportation)
The Challenges We Face
Sustainability in printing isn’t straightforward. We face several ongoing challenges:
Cost Considerations:
Sustainable materials and processes often cost more. As a company serving educational institutions and price-conscious customers, we must balance environmental responsibility with affordability. A textbook that’s too expensive to buy doesn’t serve students, no matter how sustainably it’s produced.
Quality Requirements:
Some sustainable alternatives don’t yet match the performance of conventional materials. For textbooks used daily by students, or devotional books cherished for years, durability matters. We won’t sacrifice quality for a superficial “green” label.
Supply Chain Limitations:
India’s sustainable paper and ink supply chains are still developing. Sourcing certified sustainable materials can be challenging, especially in the quantities we require.
Customer Awareness:
Many customers don’t yet prioritize sustainability in their purchasing decisions. When choosing between a sustainably produced book at ₹250 and a conventional book at ₹200, most buyers choose the cheaper option. Building awareness takes time.
Measuring Impact:
Quantifying the actual environmental benefit of our changes is complex. How do we measure the full lifecycle impact? How do we compare one sustainable choice against another?
Looking Forward: Our Sustainability Vision
Despite challenges, we’re committed to continuous improvement. Our goals for the coming years include:
Solar Power Integration:
We’re exploring solar panel installation at our Ambapuram facility. Andhra Pradesh’s abundant sunshine makes solar energy a logical choice. Initial assessments suggest we could meet 30-40% of our electricity needs through solar.
Closed-Loop Water Systems:
We’re investigating water recycling systems for our operations, particularly for cleaning equipment and cooling systems.
Carbon Footprint Measurement:
We want to establish a comprehensive carbon footprint baseline, allowing us to set specific reduction targets and track progress.
Sustainable Product Lines:
We’re considering launching specifically marketed “eco-editions” of popular titles using premium sustainable materials, allowing environmentally conscious buyers to choose these options.
Author and Customer Education:
We plan to educate our authors and customers about sustainability in publishing, creating awareness about environmental considerations in book production.
Industry Collaboration:
We’re engaging with other publishers, suppliers, and industry associations to share best practices and advocate for more sustainable industry standards.
What Readers Can Do
Sustainability isn’t just the publisher’s responsibility. Readers can contribute:
Buy Thoughtfully:
Purchase books you’ll actually read and keep. The most sustainable book is the one that gets used.
Share and Donate:
Pass books on to others when you’re done. Libraries, schools, and community centers often welcome book donations.
Recycle Properly:
When books reach the end of their useful life, recycle them properly. Paper is one of the most recyclable materials.
Support Sustainable Publishers:
When you have a choice, support publishers making environmental efforts.
Go Digital Selectively:
E-books have their place and can reduce paper use, though they have their own environmental costs (devices, electricity, electronic waste). Use whichever format you’ll actually use most effectively.
Care for Your Books:
Proper care extends book life. Use bookmarks instead of dog-earing pages, keep books dry and clean, and handle them carefully.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
Our founder’s motto was “Print is Life.” That deep respect for printed materials guides our approach to sustainability. We’re not abandoning print—we believe physical books have irreplaceable value in education and culture. Instead, we’re working to ensure that printing can continue responsibly for generations to come.
The tactile experience of a book, the ease of annotation in textbooks, the beauty of illustrated children’s stories, the reverence of holding a devotional text—these things matter. Our challenge is honoring this value while minimizing environmental impact.
The Industry’s Future
The publishing industry globally is moving toward sustainability. What seemed radical a decade ago is becoming standard practice. We expect to see:
- More transparent supply chains with clear environmental labeling
- Continued improvement in sustainable materials matching or exceeding conventional alternatives in performance
- Greater customer demand for environmentally responsible products
- Regulatory requirements encouraging or mandating sustainable practices
- Technology innovations making sustainable printing more accessible and affordable
Conclusion
Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We don’t claim to have all the answers, and we acknowledge there’s much more work ahead. But we’re committed to that work because we believe businesses have a responsibility beyond profit—a responsibility to the communities they serve and the planet we all share.
As we look toward our next seventy years, we envision VGS Publishers as a leader not just in quality and service, but in environmental stewardship. We want future generations to benefit from both the knowledge in our books and the planet those books are printed on.
We welcome feedback, suggestions, and partnerships in this journey. Sustainability works best when we collaborate—publishers, suppliers, customers, and communities working together toward a common goal.
Have ideas for how we can improve? Want to learn more about our sustainability initiatives? Contact us at vgspublishers@gmail.com. Let’s build a greener future for publishing, together.
