News Limited cleans up its act, and its printing presses

Announcing that it will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent and become carbon neutral within three years, News Limited has launched a national climate change campaign entitled 'One Degree'. The campaign is being implemented in all parts of News Limited to support the rollout of detailed energy reduction plans that have been developed by every division.

Electricity is responsible for the majority of News Limited's carbon footprint, making up 92 per cent of its total 146, 466 tonnes of emissions in the year to June 2006, according to a News Limited spokeswoman.

"Our printing facilities use the bulk of our electricity. Obviously our press facilities are being reviewed as a priority as part of this initiative," she said.

At the Chullora printing press, inefficient air compressors have been replaced, automated curtain doors have been installed to cut emissions from air conditioning and power correction equipment is being used to modulate electricity currents. The Port Melbourne plant has made energy savings with the installation of power factor correction equipment, energy efficient air compressors and chiller load shredding with the option of reusing water also being considered.

But when it comes to going carbon neutral, the company is evasive as to whether its newspapers will in turn be printed on carbon neutral paper. "It is something we are looking at as part of our overall 20 per cent reduction," said a spokeswoman. "We will be announcing the appointment of an auditor in the next week or so and are looking at all areas where carbon savings can be made and implementing those with the most beneficial return first."

As climate change becomes the buzzword of our epoch, other publishing companies have implemented similar initiatives. ACP Magazines prints on recycled paper, as does Pacific's teenage magazine, Girlfriend. But before the hype, Fairfax Regional Printers in the Hunter Valley became involved in Newcastle City Council's Cleaner Production program in March 2004.

Making radical reductions and improvements to its waste management and water usage levels, the plant has taken out five awards for Environment and Safety in 2005. In the Environment issue of Print 21 general manager Anthony Payne said that he expected other businesses to follow the Fairfax plant's lead. "It's starting to spread throughout the industry," he said. "If your business has a poor environmental performance then you're going to pay one way or the other."

Welcoming the One Degree campaign and plans for the future, News Limited chairman and chief executive John Hartigan said that as Australia's largest media company, News Limited had an obligation to act responsibly.

"Our number one priority is to get our own house in order and reduce the impact of what we can do," he said. "We have to inform and inspire the Australian community about climate change and what we can all do to make a difference."

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