Our VP Engagement, Lou Robinson, Associate Director of Projects and Services, Jess Smith, and Digital Communications Officer, Elie Sear, went to our Warehouse and Distribution Centre in Wellingborough to investigate what they’re doing to prioritise sustainability in their important work.
Lou, Jess and Elie were welcomed by the friendly staff at the warehouse and given a tour of the building including all the processes involved in getting any physical materials to OU students.
Sustainability considerations at the Print and Distribution Centre
Detailed below are all the ways the centre is putting sustainability at the heart of its work and lowering its carbon footprint from printing and packaging.
- All paper is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
- Printers use a 'Zero-carbon balancing scheme' (the Woodland Carbon Code). For every ton of paper used by the printers, the OU pays a fee to offset the energy used by way of planting trees. As the trees grow, this compensates for the greenhouse emissions used by our commercial printers. Between March and August 2023, 316 tonnes of carbon were offset.
- Internal printing uses Woodland Trust paper: FSC, EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Woodland Carbon code.
- Cardboard boxes are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, FSC certified and printed using eco-friendly vegetable and water-based inks.
- Plastic-free bags are certified compostable, made from responsibly-sourced wood pulp. TUV and HOME compostable certified. Used to protect and send prospectuses and BBC posters.
- Waste cardboard is either reused or recycled; all clear plastic wrap from packs of books and pallets is baled and recycled; all obsolete book stocks are sent for recycling (generating a small income); all wooden pallets are either reused or sold to a pallet company to be reused.
- Where possible online print is produced in house, on demand, reducing obsolescence and waste.
This video from the Warehouse and Distribution Centre details how they champion sustainability in their work.
0 Comments