Chronicle Books Creative Director Michael Carabetta worked closely with Mark Cavagnero Associates, the architecture firm that masterminded the extensive renovation. Carabetta comments, “We liked the idea of showing our environmental commitment on different levels, literally and figuratively. We tried to re-use as much as possible of the pre-existing structure, including stairways, windows and flooring, and chose, where practical, materials that were recycled or recycleable.”
The lobby bookshop is a reliquary of reclaimed materials. Carabetta continues, “We wanted a way to display single copies of books. We used reclaimed wood — dock pilings that were cleaned up, cut and mounted onto steel plates. Our receptionist just received a ‘new’ desk that Ben Laramie, our industrial designer, crafted with parts from a broken library table and another disused table.”
I also chatted with Design Director Jennifer Tolo Pierce, who serves on Chronicle’s Environmental Task Force, which also includes representatives from every department.
Q: What’s an unusual way in which people at Chronicle Books practice re-use, rather than simply recycling?
Tolo Pierce: We receive running sheets — unbound press sheet proofs — for every book and for many related products. When they are no longer needed, we give them second lives by converting them into office supplies, such as large envelopes and file folders. We periodically clean out our flat files and invite the staff to take sheets to use as giftwrap.
Q: Do your compost bins get much use?
We have a compost bin on every floor, and the bins fill up every day. The city’s downloadable signage for sorting compost was confusing, so we created our own guide, specifying some items that commonly perplex people. In San Francisco we can compost any paper product that has touched food — paper towels and napkins, pizza boxes, even milk cartons.
Q: How do you all share your re-useable mailing supplies?
We have a mailroom on each floor, where employees prepare outgoing packages, and people are encouraged to re-use envelopes and other mailing supplies as much as possible. When we receive packages, we break down the boxes. We try to open padded envelopes in a way that allows for re-use. I keep a small stash of large envelopes I’ve received right by my desk and put the rest in the mailroom.
Carabetta concludes: “Chronicle Books strives to practice and communicate awareness of what and how we consume natural resources, from the paper we print our books on, to the inks we use, to the power we use to heat, cool and light our building. We added photovoltaic panels to the roof to reduce our carbon footprint.” You can read more about the company’s environmental policy right here.
Great post, thank you! Love that Chronicle recycles its press sheets into file folders and envelopes. Is this done outside via a vendor or does Chronicle have the converting equipment in house?