Penguin Random House Mexico Champions Sustainable Publishing

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico (PRH) is merging the passion for reading with its commitment to sustainability through the second edition of its campaign, “Al mundo le quedan pocas páginas” (The World Has Few Pages Left). This initiative aims to drive cultural and environmental changes by highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices in publishing.

“If the planet were a book, we could count on our fingertips how many pages are left," states the campaign to raise awareness among readers. PRH's efforts align with deforestation statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR). Between 1990 and 2020, 420 million ha of forest were lost globally, while Mexico saw an annual deforestation rate of 212,834ha from 2001 to 2019.

Recognizing its environmental responsibility, PRH has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2030. To achieve this, the company is transforming its entire supply chain to ensure the sustainability of its primary resource: paper. Since 2021, over 96% of PRH's paper comes from certified sources, while more than 80% of its operations are powered by renewable energy.

PRH’s sustainability campaign has achieved significant milestones. The company has eliminated single-use plastic wrapping for book sales, with 90% of their books being non-shrink-wrapped by 2022. They've also recycled 569t of paper and cardboard from 2021 to 2023, effectively reducing waste and preserving natural resources. In their storage and distribution centers, they've replaced wooden pallets with sustainable plastic ones made entirely from recycled materials. By 2031, this initiative aims to conserve up to 140,000 trees. 

The campaign has also secured certifications from environmental organizations, ensuring that PRH’s paper comes from sustainable sources and that its supply chain upholds biodiversity, supporting water resources, ecosystems, and workers' rights. Furthermore, Penguin Random House has partnered with UNAM to recycle waste into paper used within university processes.