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Yellow Pages Group Takes Steps to Reduce its Environmental Footprint

In a 2007 Harris/Decima poll, 30 percent of Canadians named the environment as their number one national concern.  The issue trumped the economy, healthcare and the war in Afghanistan.  Leading Canadian directory publisher, Yellow Pages Group (YPG) takes these findings seriously and understands the rising national and global expectations regarding sustainable corporate operations and the growing demand for environmentally responsible consumer products.  Annie Marsolais, director of corporate communications at YPG who spearheads the company’s environmental initiatives, recently answered a few questions about the company’s best practices in sustainability and how its approach is raising the bar for other publishers in the industry.

Q. What internal practices have you developed and implemented to make YPG's operations more environmentally friendly and efficient?

A. YPG looks at its environmental initiatives from the inside out. We feel that we must have internal institutional practices in place as a part of our corporate culture before we can extend our environmental efforts outwards. This means starting by encouraging our employees to be more environmentally aware. 

Our newly commissioned Enviro-Action Team is constantly looking for ways to eliminate unnecessary use of resources. We recently surveyed our internal printing needs and launched a duplex printing initiative in an effort to reduce the amount of paper we use. We also offer an internal recycling program that goes beyond the traditional collection of paper, plastic and glass. In some of our offices, employees recycle printer cartridges, batteries and even cell phones.

Perhaps the most important part of YPG’s outward facing environmental program is the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory that we recently completed. This audit of our environmental footprint was performed across our entire supply chain and the results will enable us to identify opportunities to mitigate our impact and reduce emissions for the short- and long-term.

Q. What changes have you made in the production of your print products in order to make them more environmentally friendly?

A. Our directories are of course entirely recyclable. Our directory paper is composed of a blend of post-consumer fibre content and thermo-mechanical pulp made from wood chips, a by-product of saw mill operations, and it is certified Elemental Chlorine Free. Environmentally-friendly soy based inks are used in the printing process. In order to further reduce waste, we have adjusted the dimensions of some directories.   

In an effort to reduce our paper use, we deliver residential directories every 24 months instead of every 12 months in certain large urban markets like Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Q. How have you interpreted these practices into advertiser and consumer facing products and services?

A. We recognize that many consumers are making a conscious effort to lead more sustainable lives, a trend that has a direct connection to the products and services they buy. In May 2008, YPG launched a pilot project, the new ecoFinder section published within selected Yellow Pages™ directories. It aims to bring together eco-conscious buyers and eco-friendly sellers. The ecoFinder section is a natural extension of our company’s mission and commitment to corporate social responsibility. It was created to promote businesses that provide environmentally-preferable products or services or that have leading environmental operational practices. Advertisers have been eager to get on board and we hope the ecoFinder will help support the growing trend in environmentally responsible consumption by providing consumers with the information they need to identify the most eco-friendly businesses, products and services in their area.

Q. How can other publishers set industry wide examples for best practices in environmental responsibility?

A. Yellow Pages publishers must be honest and transparent about their environmental commitment and practices. Currently, YPG is the only Canadian publisher that has gone on record about its environmental program. We believe that reducing the industry’s environmental footprint is a responsibility that should be shared among all publishers and media in general. Achieving this goal requires openness and collaboration. 

Q. How do you see the industry's environmental practices evolving over the next few years?

A. An ongoing dialogue between the industry and key environmental stakeholders will play a key role in publishers’ ability to understand and then reduce their environmental footprint. Publishers must move towards the implementation of more sustainable products, which will mean working hand-in-hand with suppliers to raise the bar across the supply chain. 

Yellow Pages Group is Canada's largest directory publisher and has been an industry leader since it published its first directory in 1908. YPG is the incumbent directory publisher in Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, the Territories and Atlantic Canada.