Candlewick Named Recommended Children's Publisher by Rainforest Action Network
November 24, 2010
Candlewick Press has been named a recommended children’s book publisher by Rainforest Action Network (RAN) in a new report and consumer guide released by (RAN), “Rainforest-Safe Kids' Books: How Do Publishers Stack Up?” in which leading book publishers were ranked based on their paper policies and purchasing practices.
In the report RAN said, “Candlewick Press, the U.S. subsidiary of Walker Books Ltd. (London), uses the U.K.-based Publishers’ Database for Responsible Environmental Paper Sourcing (PREPS) to obtain chain-of-custody information on their paper sources and has a policy to use three-star and above grades, which excludes pulp of uncertain or high risk origin, including controversial Indonesian fiber and papers. Candlewick does not purchase papers from controversial suppliers APP, APRIL or their affiliates and will not do so until key reforms have been adopted. The company has a public paper policy that eliminates the use of paper from controversial sources and is currently using papers containing recycled content that are FSC-certified whenever they are available.”
Kim Lanza, Executive Director of Production and Manufacturing at Candlewick Press, confirms, "Our parent company, Walker Books (UK), with whom we do much of our purchasing, is a founding member of Publishers’ Database for Responsible Environmental Paper Sourcing (PREPS) which is an organization that provides objective information on paper. PREPS is a joint initiative from nineteen of the UK's leading publishers. Together, these companies have set up a database to hold technical specifications and details of the pulps and forest sources for each of the papers they use with the aim of ensuring that we all use legally harvested and sustainable forest sources. Based on this information, each paper will be awarded a grade of 1-5 stars using the Egmont Grading System©. This considers whether material has been legally harvested (or recycled) and how the forest sources have been managed. Our policy is to use 3-star and above grades, which excludes pulp of uncertain origin including Indonesian and we have been actively substituting our core range of papers to stock with traceability. It encompasses FSC and PEFC certification. Further information about PREPS can be found at www.prepsgroup.com.”
Candlewick Press makes every effort to uphold the highest environmental standards. Candlewick’s environmental policy can be found on Candlewick’s homepage, www.candlewick.com.
Read Rainforest Action Network’s report here: http://ran.org/sites/default/files/rankidsbooks_report.pdf
Download the RAN’s pocket guide: http://ran.org/sites/default/files/rankidsbooks_pocketguide.pdf
Candlewick Press is an independent, employee-owned publisher based in Somerville, MA. Candlewick publishes outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages; including books by award-winning authors Kate DiCamillo, Laura Amy Schlitz, and M. T. Anderson; the widely acclaimed 'Ologies and Judy Moody series; and favorites such as the Where's Waldo and Maisy books. Candlewick's parent company is Walker Books Ltd., of London, England, with additional offices in Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.
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