We asked one of our print consultants about their commitment to sustainability a few days ago, and they were rather puzzled by the question. “But of course,” they said. “It goes without saying doesn’t it?  Sustainable plantation paper … ECF processing … vegetable-based inks. We don’t beat the drum about it, that’s just the way it is these days.” We feel the same way, but we’re regularly asked the same question, so here’s Queensberry’s philosophy on the environment and sustainability…

Humanity’s biggest impact on the environment is generally from our daily practices.

That coffee is gone in five or ten minutes, for example, but the disposable cup lid lasts for generations.

Same with sushi, salad, groceries, magazines – most of the products people buy day to day. Waste from products and their packaging vastly outlasts the products themselves. And the sheer volume of what we buy makes each seemingly trivial purchase overwhelming in its impact.

At Queensberry our albums last for generations, not the packaging we deliver them in.

We ship our products with recycled/recyclable cartons and biodegradable plant-based pellets that can be reused or composted, and break down within minutes when wet.

To ensure the longevity of the albums themselves our policy is to use only the best time-honoured materials and hand binding processes, and our sustainability policies reflect that mindset.

Because our products are handmade, our bindery consumes little energy compared with intensive machinery-based operations, and offers rewarding jobs to a skilled team.

To reduce both our costs and environmental impact we closely monitor all production inputs, and recycle all recyclable waste, for example the silver from our Lab, and paper and card from the Bindery.

We avoid the use of toxins or heavy metals in the production of our albums. For example we selected our new micro leathers not only for their beauty and durability but also for the environmentally responsible policies of their manufacturer, with no heavy metals, formaldehydes etc used in their production.

In general we maintain “narrow and deep” relationships with suppliers, with a strong focus on quality, dependability and sustainability – policies that reflect our own. For example our card stock is specially made for us by a mill that must maintain the highest possible environmental standards simply because it adjoins England’s Lake District National Park, and has done since 1845.

To ship our albums we use German logistics company DHL, which is committed to improving its carbon efficiency by 30% by 2020 (10% by 2012). Like all freight, shipping our albums has an environmental impact. But, as we mentioned earlier, the impact of freighting an album intended to last for generations is minimal in a world where it is everyday practice to ship food and flowers around the globe and forget the rhythm of the seasons.

Finally, we are proudly based in New Zealand, where most energy comes from renewable resources, our workplace and environmental practices are carefully regulated and our clean, green image is a source of national pride.

Of course there is always room for improvement. This year we will be reviewing our own in-house practices as well as investigating the feasibility of a surface shipping and carbon offset program as an option for our clients.

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