The Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard and the Irvine Herald are now printed with full Chain of Custody status with PEFC Certification and licence, ensuring that in no way does their printing contribute to global deforestation, says Reach.
The full Chain of Custody status means that a robust scheme is in place to responsibly source and track the wood and wood fibre used to make newsprint for the titles.
And the PEFC (Programme of Endorsement of Forest Certification) stamp of approval guarantees that at every stage in the supply chain there is a full commitment to sustainable forestry.
Reach Scotland Regionals' publishing editor George Johnston has worked closely with his colleagues at the company's printing plant – Reach Printing Services (Saltire) – to raise awareness of the newspaper group's commitment to minimising environmental impact throughout the business and how it is continually striving for sustainability.
He said: "There is no getting away from climate emergency and we should not underestimate the part we can all play.
"We can assure you being a reader of our titles does not in any way contribute to deforestation.
"As a newspaper publisher, our print credentials underpin everything we do.
“In the same way we apply values and standards to our editorial content, we hold ourselves to strict controls in our production processes too.
“Our editorial and production staff are fiercely proud of their titles and their place in the communities in which they serve.
“We are a trusted news brand and the trust of our audience is something we take very seriously.
“Picking up a paper in the newsagents is easy, but knowing how that paper is sourced and produced from tree to print is how we earn your trust.
“We know the environment is very much front of mind these days — from schools to businesses — everyone accepts how important an issue it is.
“So to be able to offer our readers this industry-leading environmental stamp is just another fantastic acknowledgement that shows our titles do care about the issues that are important.
“Our project aims to raise awareness and encourage readers and advertisers to support the important role that the local newspaper industry plays in protecting the environment.
“As for the next steps, we hope businesses will assess their own supply chain strategy and support sustainability through new partnerships with us.
“We are proud of our environmental credentials."
Reach Scotland Regionals, which publishes 17 local titles every week including the Paisley Daily Express and Hamilton Advertiser, is now working with its suppliers to ensure every one of the regional titles can follow the example set by the Ayrshire series, say the publishers.
