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Alma Media surveys the environmental impact of printed newspaper and online media

Alma Media Corporation   Press release   April 18, 2011 at 13.30 (EEST)

ALMA MEDIA SURVEYS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PRINTED NEWSPAPER AND ONLINE MEDIA

Alma Media has launched a broad study fully investigating the environmental impact of printed Aamulehti, Iltalehti and Kauppalehti published by Alma Media as well as the online services of these three newspapers. The study is the first of its kind both in Finland and abroad. Its aim is to respond to the growing need to acquire knowledge regarding the environmental impact of print and online media. The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Swedish Centre for Sustainable Communications (CESC), operating in conjunction with the Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, are responsible for carrying out the study.

The survey conducted by Alma Media in winter 2009-2010 showed that the company’s stakeholders perceive environmental issues as being extremely important and wish to receive more information regarding the environmental impact of different forms of media. Based on this, Alma Media outlined environmental issues as one of the focal points of its corporate responsibility strategy in 2010.

“The study is a natural step in our proactive approach to corporate responsibility, and it provides valuable information to support the sustainable development of our own operations. It is our hope that the study will both respond to our customers’ and other stakeholders’ need to acquire information and also lead the way and encourage the entire media business to address common environmental challenges,” says Kai Telanne, President and CEO of Alma Media.

The environmental impacts of print and online media have so far been researched only sparsely, and the research focuses strongly on investigating only the climate impact, i.e. the carbon footprint. The lifecycle analysis, which will be carried out now, determines for the first time the carbon footprint as well as other significant environmental impacts of print and online media in a comparable manner. Regarding Aamulehti, also the balance information on water usage will be formed regarding the water footprint.

“Due to its composition, the study is the first of its kind both in Finland and abroad. The aim is to produce valuable information not only regarding the products of Alma Media but also more extensively about the environmental impact of print and online media. The environmental impact of print media is easily perceived as heavy, and for this reason it is important and necessary to conduct new and reliable research in order to proportion environmental impacts and to support communications,” says Minna Nors, VTT’s Research Scientist leading the project.

The research results should be available in December 2011. The research is partly funded by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, and is part of their new Green Growth programme.

Further information:

Riikka Poukka, Corporate Responsibility Coordinator, Alma Media, tel. +35810 665 2800

Minna Nors, Research Scientist, VTT, tel. +35840 522 7108

 

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is a dynamic media company whose best-known products are Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com. Alma Media employs approximately 2,800 professionals. The company’s net sales in 2010 totalled MEUR 311.4 with an operating margin of 13.9 per cent. Alma Media’s share (ALN1V) is listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Exchange. Read more at www.almamedia.fi.

 

  • Published: 18.4.2011, 15:30
  • Category: Press release, Releases

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