NewsMediaWorks’ Environment Advisory Group will launch a national industry-wide advertising campaign this Sunday encouraging readers to be part of the sustainable production chain by recycling their newspapers and magazines.

In the lead up to World Environment Day on Sunday 5 June, Australia’s news media and magazine publishers have united to celebrate and promote the environmental sustainability of print media.

World Environment Day is a United Nations program for environmental awareness and action. This year’s theme – ‘Seven billion dreams, one planet, consume with care’, focuses on the use of natural resources.

The NewsMediaWorks campaign emphasises the responsible use of natural resources and invites the public to ‘be part of the chain’ of sustainability by recycling their newspapers and magazines. For publishers, this chain represents the circular economy around which their products are made – from sustainable forestry, responsible production to world class recycling.

“The campaign provides a call to action to our audiences to continue the important part they play in the chain and grow their great record of recycling newspapers and magazines,” NewsMediaWorks CEO Mark Hollands said.

“That chain starts with making our paper from sustainable plantation forests. No Australian native trees or old growth forests are used to produce newspapers and magazines. The fibres of old newsprint can be recycled up to seven times and doing so is an integral part of our sustainable profile, but is only achievable with the participation of readers.”

NewsMediaWorks executive director – environment Peter Netchaef said he is excited to see two decades of cooperation between Australian publishers on environment culminate in a focus on the whole sustainability chain.

“For the last two decades the publishing industry has worked voluntarily to commit to advance environmental outcomes. This commitment is outlined in the industry’s National Environmental Sustainability Agreement with government and ahead of World Environment Day it goes one step further to engage our consumers, employees and partners.”