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Book Clubs knows how important it is to protect the Earth’s natural resources and we’re committed to doing our part. Here are some questions and answers about the things we’re doing to keep getting greener.
 How is Scholastic Book Clubs minimizing its carbon footprint?
 We are doing a number of different things to ensure our Clubs are environmentally responsible and have the smallest carbon footprint possible.
We print our promotions on recycled, FSC-certified papers.
We print in Canada and source our paper from a mill nearby, minimizing the shipping involved in getting paper to the printer, and promotions to schools.
We wrap our kits in oxo-biodegradable plastic that breaks down over time.
We continue to reduce our mailings to limit the paper and shipping necessary, minimizing our use of resources like wood and fossil fuels.
How much recycled paper goes into the student flyers?
Our student flyers are made of 100 percent recycled paper fibers. At least 80 percent of those fibers are Post-Consumer Waste (PCW).
Where does Scholastic Book Clubs get its paper, and where are the flyers printed?
We source the paper for our student flyers from an FSC-certified mill in Whitby, Ontario. This lets us ensure that sources meet the standards for responsibly managed forests. It also means that we minimize our fuel use and our emissions in transit, since the paper has only a short distance to travel to our printer in Owen Sound, Ontario, which is also FSC-certified.
What is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and what does it mean to be certified?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. In order to certify a paper product the council monitors the paper-making and printing processes, from the forests to the warehouse, to ensure that they are environmentally responsible. The FSC ensures that the forests where our paper pulp comes from are well managed and sustainable, and that the printers are as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. When a paper product has an FSC logo on it, like our promotions, it means that it has met the FSC criteria for environmentally responsible production choices.
What does it mean to say that a paper is Ancient Forest Friendly?
In order to be designated Ancient Forest Friendly (AFF), 100% of the paper’s fibre must have ecological attributes. This means that the paper is manufactured with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled, recycled and/or agricultural residue fibre and that any new fibre used in the paper must be both Forest Stewardship Council certified and assessed not to originate from endangered forests. Bleaching must be chlorine free.
What does Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) mean?
PCW stands for “Post-Consumer Waste” and refers to the type of fibers that make up a piece of paper. PCW is made up of fibers that have already been used in a paper product, before being recycled and incorporated into the paper for something new, like our Book Club flyers. The PCW fibers in our flyers could have come from a newspaper, a magazine, or any other paper you put in the recycling bin!
What parts of the book club package can be recycled?
All of them! Once teachers, parents and children have had an opportunity to make their selections from the monthly book club offer, the flyers can be placed in your regular recycling bin. The plastic straps and shrink wrap that hold the book clubs together when they arrive in the mail are also recyclable.
Your new shrink wrap and plastic bags say they are oxo-biodegradable. What does that mean?
Our bags and shrink wrap are made of oxo-biodegradable plastic, which means that they will break down over time. Oxo-biodegradation is a two-step process in which the plastic first starts to break down under exposure to oxygen and heat. The smaller molecules are then further broken into carbon dioxide, water and biomass through reaction with naturally occurring microorganisms. Oxo-biodegradable plastics are not suitable for compost, but they can be recycled.
Why do you send copies of the Book Club kits addressed to the Staff Room or generic teachers by grade level?
We send additional copies of our promotion so that they will be available to teachers who might not yet be running a club in their classroom, or who might have a particular interest in a special themed offer that they do not usually receive. If you feel your school is receiving too many catalogues, please contact Customer Service and we will make a record for future mailings. Please note that at present our mailing labels are printed up to three months in advance, so any changes to mailing status will not be effective until three months from the request. We are currently working with our printing and shipping partners to make this process more immediate and efficient for our customers.
I asked not to receive any more Book Club kits, but the next month they still arrived in my name – why?
Currently, mailing labels for Book Club promotion are printed three months in advance. We are working with our printing and shipping partners to make this process more immediate and efficient for our customers.
What resources/books do you suggest to help teach students how they can make a difference?
There are lots of resources available to help students learn the importance of big green initiatives, and the impact that their own efforts can have. Consider these books as a starting point:
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon
Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green and Mike Gordon
Every Minute on Earth by Steve Murrie and Matthew Murrie
You Can Save the Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make a Difference by Jacqui Wines
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