Hachette Livre continues to build on these efforts and is now setting its sights higher by unveiling a new strategy called 50/30, which aims to reduce emissions by 50%, compared to 2019.
35% decrease in carbon emissions achieved in 2024
In 2024, the Hachette Livre editorial teams ramped up their eco-design initiatives and the Group made strides in its initiatives with all its papermaking and printing partners.
The initial goal of a 30% reduction in carbon emissions over the 2019-2030 period was not only reached, but exceeded, at 35%. Much of this significant decrease was achieved in Scope 3, which represents 97% of the Group’s overall carbon footprint.
Key achievements include:
- A 55% reduction in the carbon intensity of paper sourced, via a transition to renewables and streamlined industrial processes.
- A 67% reduction in the carbon intensity of printing sourced, via improvements to suppliers’ energy mix and environmental performance.
- A 21% reduction in transport and downstream freight emissions, via streamlined logistics flows and stricter environmental criteria in the carrier selection process.
Several other elements also contributed to these results: international sharing of best practices and implementation of the most effective reduction levers, along with the use of a common database of emissions factors.
An even more ambitious vision for 2030 with the new 50/30 strategy roadmap
The new 50/30 plan aims for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – an ambitious but achievable target backed by tangible measures across the value chain.
Scopes 1 and 2:
- A transition to a fleet of 100% hybrid or electric vehicles by 2030.
- Implementation or optimization of energy management systems in the Group’s main buildings, with a fully renewable energy supply starting in 2025.
Scope 3:
- Use of less-carbon-intensive transport across the value chain, with a view to lowering annual emissions for upstream transportation by 1% and for downstream transportation by 4.5%, by 2030.
- Closer monitoring of emissions from paper manufacturing and printing partners, with reduction objectives of 65% and 78% by 2030, respectively, compared to 2019.
- Matching print runs to sales potential more closely, to reduce the book pulping rate by 30% between 2019 and 2030.
- Reducing emissions from business travel by 10% by 2030, by limiting short-haul flights and promoting train travel.
- Advancing eco-design initiatives such as optimized formats, more eco-responsible paper choices, lower grammage, etc.
New tools and a broader scope
Hachette Livre is set to provide its imprints with a carbon calculator designed to give a precise estimate of production-related emissions and serve as a guide for eco-design initiatives.
These steps forward are part of a gradual broadening of the carbon assessment scope to include Partworks starting in 2025, and board games in 2026. In addition, a study conducted with Carbone 4 will compare the carbon footprint of print, digital and audio formats, to guide editorial choices.
Employees have been playing an active part in these efforts, thanks to regular awareness actions to strengthen the environmental culture at the Group.
“These results illustrate our staunch commitment to the environment on an international scale and the dedication of all our staff and partners. Our new 50/30 strategy, which seeks to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030, represents a decisive shift that cements the place of CSR as a major strategic lever,” Gaëtan Ruffault, Senior Vice President for Human Resources and CSR at Hachette Livre.