Research firm Quantis conducted and independently reviewed the study, in accordance with ISO standards applying to life cycle assessments, looking at offset-only printing, digital-only printing, and scenarios that would involve a mix of both. Quantis measured the potential carbon footprint of a 240-page, 5.5×8.5-inch monochrome paperback book in two different demand profiles – a bestseller selling 500,000 copies over two years, and a classic book selling 5,000 copies over five years.
The study quantifies opportunities where digital printing can help reduce the environmental impact of publishing, including: reducing the number of bestseller copies printed by up to 22 percent, without affecting the total number of printed books sold; and reducing the potential carbon footprint of printing in a classic book scenario by as much as 20 percent.
The study says that the digital presses used in the life cycle assessment, HP T200 and T300 Inkjet Web Presses and an HP R85 Inkjet Press retail printing technology currently in development at HP, can help reduce the significant overproduction common in book publishing. The studies authors say some figures estimate that approximately 30-percent of printed books go unsold and unread.
Christopher Morgan, senior vice president, Graphics Solutions Business, HP, syas, “Digital printing’s ability to efficiently and affordably produce books in smaller quantities reduces the masses of unused copy returns that have long held industry sustainability, and profitability, hostage. Today, many of the world’s leading publishers select printing companies that use HP Inkjet Web Presses to better match supply to demand, reducing the industry’s total carbon footprint by eliminating thousands of tons of paper that would otherwise be used to print unread books.”
HP continues that, when printing to meet bestseller demand needs, the life cycle assessment showed that combining analogue offset and digital inkjet printing could significantly diminish the number of returned copies, allowing publishers to reduce print quantities by 22 percent without affecting the total number of printed books sold. It says that for the classic book profile, HP inkjet digital presses had the potential to reduce the title’s carbon footprint by up to 20 percent when compared to offset-only production. The highest reduction in the classic book profile came from producing books on an HP T300 Inkjet Web Press in combination with the HP R85 retail/in-store book inkjet press solution.
It says other advantages for digital print-on-demand book manufacturing include reducing makeready printing waste and storage, warehousing and distribution costs.
Hong Kong-based book exporter CTPS prints books on HP T300 Inkjet Web Presses. The new study forms part of an ongoing initiative within HP to evaluate, quantify and expand digital printing’s positive effects on print sustainability. In the publishing industry specifically, HP has joined both the Green Press Initiative and the Book Industry Envrionment Council.
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