National Geographic Presents Life Cycle Assessment Results at PaperCon 2011

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Hans H. Wegner, Chief Sustainability Officer, National Geographic Society, will reveal the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) by National Geographic magazine in a keynote address on May 4 at the TAPPI Sustainability Forum held during PaperCon 2011. The work represents one of the most comprehensive LCA studies to date on a magazine.

The goal of the LCA, completed in June 2009, was to identify the carbon emissions of creating the magazine content, of the supply chain of vendors and service providers that factor into the creation and delivery of a physical magazine, and finally, of disposal of the magazine. Among the many processes evaluated were: floor space and energy to maintain staffs for story development, editing, advertising and sales; forestry management and harvesting; chemical suppliers; paper manufacturing; transportation to the printer; printing and binding; distribution by truck, rail, etc.; and waste services.

The next step being taken in the process is to develop options to reduce the carbon footprint and then develop a strategy for implementing those that are practical and effective.

Wegner is Vice President of Production Services responsible for the manufacture of National Geographic Magazine. He was recently named the Society's Chief Sustainability Officer, where he is responsible for initiatives to green its operations, putting into action sustainability plans and carbon reduction initiatives in the Society's operations and with its suppliers.