Going Green at Sheridan: Our Response to the Climate Crisis

The printing industry has always consumed its share of natural resources, and we often use those resources to educate others on the harmful effects of climate change. But we can no longer deny the reality of a changing climate. We live the effects daily — blistering droughts, extreme temperatures, and historic flooding. With climate change as an obvious and growing concern, the question remains: What will we do about it? Here’s what Sheridan — and our parent company, CJK Group — are doing right now to mitigate the effects of the environmental crisis.

The urgency of the climate crisis

Temperatures are ticking upwards as the ice sheets melt. If you live along the coastline or in the western half of the U.S., it’s getting harder to discount increases in severe weather. While swathes of the country are drowning, other parts are burning. Is the climate in crisis? The data provide a clear picture:

• Global temperatures broke records dating back to 1880 this year
• Fire seasons are some of the worst on record
• 2022 saw the most catastrophic flooding in recorded history

Deloitte predicts inaction on climate change could cost the U.S. economy $14.5 trillion by 2070. Debating whether the climate is in crisis or arguing over who caused these issues is a red herring. Instead, we must act. How can publishers increase their sustainability efforts?

The role of publishing

The publishing industry has historically contributed to the current environmental dilemma. From culling 32 million trees annually to make books and relying on fossil fuels, water, and chemicals to produce other products, it’s clear there are plenty of opportunities for improvement. Today, most publishers and their suppliers, including Sheridan, have made strides toward reducing their carbon footprint.

How can the publishing industry, in particular, respond to climate change? It’s a complex issue with an equally complex solution. In educating the world about climate change, we publish reams of paper that elucidate the issue and ways to improve it, but that simple act also contributes to the problem. Even obvious efforts to digitize have an environmental impact, given that data centers account for 0.5% of carbon emissions (and quite a lot of water consumption) in the U.S. Yet it’s not all gloom and doom. There are ways that publishers can make a positive impact.

Sheridan’s Commitment to go green

At Sheridan, we believe there is a distinct and powerful difference between simply being environmentally friendly and being committed to operating facilities with a focus on sustainability and continuous improvement. We must do more as an industry to create positive change. For example, Sheridan is committed to reducing its environmental impact in a variety of ways, including:

• Decreasing our carbon footprint
• Reusing or recycling all possible materials and energy resources
• Eliminating over-consumption and minimizing waste
• Inspiring employees to live sustainably in their personal and professional lives

We are committed to meeting federal, state, and local compliance standards at all our facilities and leading our industry in the effort to secure a cleaner world.

CJK Group’s Chief Information and Chief Technology Officer Grant Miller said, “We are actively engaging with clients and strategic partners, both domestically and internationally, to identify ways we can simplify and streamline our efforts through industry standards, defined metrics, and joint activities. These efforts will enable us to spend less time ‘reporting,’ given aligned goals and metrics, and more time actively driving material improvements in our collective carbon footprint.”