Lessebo Paper, Bonnier Books, Livonia Print launch green paper

Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper

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Jens Olson, CEO of Lessebo Paper (L) with Trond Erik Isaksen, Sales director at Livonia Print and Markus Guldstrand, Production director at Bonnier Books.

Lessebo Paper is partnering with Bonnier Books and Livonia Print to launch a green paper quality Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper – an initiative to minimize the carbon footprint of printed books. 

Lessebo Paper is one of the oldest paper manufacturers in Sweden and has been working to reduce their negative environmental impact. The company says it produces one of the most environmentally friendly paper products in the market, both in terms of sourcing raw materials but also in minimizing CO2 emissions, using only renewable electricity and responsible water stewardship. 

Lessebo Paper has been partnering with Bonnier Books and Livonia Print to develop a new paper quality for high-quality printing that does not compromise the environmental performance of the product. The cooperation has so far entailed Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper, a quality produced with minimal GHG emissions. In total, the production of pulp and paper emits 25kg CO2 per ton of finished paper, which is significantly lower than the European average. In addition, all CO2 emissions from the production process of pulp and paper are compensated through a Gold Standard project. 

Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper is a white, uncoated paper quality available in gram weights from 100 gsm up to 140 gsm as standard. The paper is Cradle to Cradle-certified at Gold level, FSC-certified, and has high opacity and a rough surface to provide the best reading experience. The bulk of the paper is specially developed to give the book a pleasant thickness and weight. Furthermore, Livonia Zero Offset by Lessebo Paper is a quality developed for high-performance printing machines and is available in both reels and sheets. The paper is produced in Sweden and contains locally sourced raw materials. 

We know that the industry must lead the way to a climate-smart society. By partnering with Livonia Print and Bonnier Books, we together take action to make the future of printed books even more environmentally friendly,” says Jens Olson, CEO at Lessebo Paper. 

Markus Guldstrand, production director at Bonnier Books explains, “At Bonnier Books, we are dedicated to running a sustainable business that leads the way in publishing for years to come. Partnering with Lessebo Paper and Livonia Print to bring this paper to the market is a prime example of that dedication. We’re excited to use this fantastic book paper, which is a substantial step toward achieving our sustainability goals. And we remain fully committed to actively shaping a sustainable future for, and together with, our industry.” 

Eva Hansén, head of Production Bonnierförlagen says, “We will use this paper in many of our books, and although this is a substantial step forward, we will tirelessly continue to reduce our climate impact in different ways. By collaborating and partnering with industry leaders in our supply chain and the publishing industry, Bonnierförlagen aims to lead by example and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.”

2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India

Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.

The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry. While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.

The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.

Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.

Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.

Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.

– Naresh Khanna

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