 Magazines constitute an ecologically beneficial user interface because you can enjoy reading a magazine without electricity. This is important for ecologically minded Finns. In the course of the life span of the annual volume of a weekly magazine the carbon footprint is approximately the same as those of a sixty kilometre trip by car.
Finns are ecologically minded people. In the hands of an ecologically minded consumer printed matter constitutes a worthwhile alternative. Publishers also are beginning to pay attention to the ecological aspects of magazines and newspapers.
Ms Minna Thors, senior researcher at the forest industry research centre KCL Laboratories says that the annual amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a magazine published 48 times a year and delivered at the doorstep is about 9 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. The carbon dioxide emission resulting from a car trip of about 60 kilometres is of the same magnitude.
The carbon footprint of magazines can be reduced by recycling, because used magazines provide useful and good quality fibre for the recycling process. Magazines are mainly made from ecologically produced paper, which in turn is based on renewable and recyclable material, i.e. wood fibre.
In conformity with the principles of sustainable forest management the origin of paper raw material, i.e. pulpwood is well known, good forestry practices are promoted and forest biodiversity is ensured. The wood used in ecologically sound production comes from well managed forests, which can be proved by for example forest certification.
An ecologically produced magazine has aspects other than the origin of the wood used. Ms Nors reminds that the ecological impact during its entire lifespan, for example the acquisition of raw materials, manufacture and minimization of emissions, the fuel used, transports and final disposal of the end product must be taken into account.
It is important for readers that the product is ecological. Circa 90 % of all Finns find this aspect important and they want to promote ecological production through their choices.
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