The Wan-Ifra report on newsprint waste

Newsprint accounts for around 50% to 60% of the total cost of production of a printed newspaper. Over the years, several technology advancements have made newspaper production a finely-tuned industrial process. However, efficient use of newsprint is an area that calls for serious attention. A sharp focus on the management of newsprint waste will have a dramatic impact on the efficiency of the production process.

07 Aug 2014 | By Dibyajyoti Sarma

In this context, the World Association of Newspapers and New Publishers (Wan-Ifra) has announced the release of its latest special SFN report on newsprint waste management, which has been authored by Kasturi Balaji, director, Kasturi & Sons, the publishers of The Hindu.

The report will be formally released at Wan-Ifra India 2014 conference, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 17 and 18 September. Balaji will also speak about newsprint waste management at the Printing Summit of the conference, and in the new World Printers Forum conference to be held on 15 and 16 October in Amsterdam. The report will also be presented at the World Publishing Expo in Amsterdam, scheduled for 13-15 October.

Balaji, also the chairman of the Wan-Ifra South Asian Committee, said, “The newspaper industry is indebted to those members of the Wan-Ifra (then Ifra) Newsprint Committee that compiled and approved the Newsprint and Newsink Guide in 1993. That guide has served as the main reference and source for this paper on newsprint waste management. This paper attempts to both update the content of the section on efficient use of newsprint and bring in the Indian context, wherever applicable.”

“Each percent of saved waste reduces the production cost,” said Manfred Werfel, executive director, Wan-Ifra. “Waste occurs at all stages of production and delivery, including areas where the printing plant has no control. This makes combating waste a complex problem. Considering the cost of newsprint, reducing waste can make a uniquely valuable contribution to the organisation.”

“As circulation of newspapers continues to increase in India, the subject of waste management assumes greater significance,” said Magdoom Mohamed, managing director, Wan-Ifra South Asia. “This special report will help our members learn about the best practices in reducing newsprint waste.”

Delegates of the Wan-Ifra India conference - Printing Summit will get a free printed copy of the report. The report will also be available for download at the Wan-Ifra website for the members.

Meanwhile, Wan-Ifra India 2014 conference will discuss, among other things, opportunities and best practices of reaching out to the younger audience and will also offer ideas for monetisation of news and efficient operations. The topics of the conference include: The storytelling revolution, multiple platform publishing and revenue models, achieving and sustaining operational excellence, cross-media revenue strategies and engaging the readers.

The conference, which returns to Delhi after a gap of eight years, expects to attract about 400 delegates from across South Asia and rest of the world. The conference also offers the opportunity to meet the leading suppliers of news publishing industry, who are participating in the info-table exhibition in the adjoining conference halls and as sponsors.