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The aim of the LEADER project (2007-2010) was to study the environmental impacts occurring during the life cycle of print products. The scope of the project was focused on printed media products. The main products in the print media product group are newspapers, magazines, books and advertisements. In the study, two research methods were applied: product-specific life cycle assessment (including carbon footprint) and the environmentally extended inputoutput model ENVIMAT (Seppälä et al. 2009). Life cycle assessment is a method that provides detailed information about the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts connected to the life cycle of a product. Carbon footprinting is a fairly new application of life cycle assessment with its own specific calculation procedures. In the ENVIMAT model, the life cycle impact results of the whole Finnish economy or individual industries can be presented with indicators such as environmental impact category results (e.g. climate change). Thus the ENVIMAT model is a macro-level tool that provides an estimate of the environmental impacts related to the production and consumption of print products in Finland. During the project, data was collected concerning the whole life cycle of print products and five case products were selected for further study. Life cycle assessments were conducted and carbon footprints calculated for ? a regional newspaper (coldset offset printed) ? a weekly magazine (heatset offset printed) ? a photobook (printed with electrophotography). Additionally, a carbon footprint study was conducted for ? an advertisement leaflet (rotogravure printed) ? hardcover book (sheetfed offset printed). By selecting several case products, the potential impacts of different printing methods and different paper grades were included in the study. The case studies provide extensive examples of the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts - and especially of the carbon footprints - of printed products. Insofar as this was possible, the case studies were defined to present viable value chains that could exist in Finland. Due to several differences between the case products, the results of the studies are not directly comparable. However, the case studies point out many similarities and critical environmental aspects within the product group of fibre-based print products. Also the challenges related to the use of LCA and carbon footprint methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of paper-based products have been illustrated and discussed in the context of the case studies. In all cases, the LCI, carbon footprint and LCIA results are reported divided into life cycle stages and considering both direct and indirect emissions and impacts. By presenting the sources and potential impacts according to life cycle stages, the influence of different actors over the impacts of the whole life cycle can be evaluated. The case studies provide new information about the potential environmental impacts related to print products. Especially the end-of-life treatments, all transport, manufacturing of printing ink and printing plates and the environmental impacts of electrophotography printing are aspects that have not been studied widely before. As part of data collection, the development of environmental performance within different printing methods was evaluated, and environmental indicators specific for the printing phase are discussed. Additionally, the results of the LEADER project can be used as help and background information when further developing methodologies and calculation principles suitable for fibrebased print products.

Concern about climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has created pressures for the printing industry. Customers are willing to know and to minimize the carbon footprint of their purchases. Up-to-date information on environmental performance is required also in business to business relationships. In Finland VTT (KCL) has coordinated national level industry consortium project called Lean Development with Renewable Resources (LEADER 2007 - 2010). The project is studying the environmental impacts occurred during the life cycle of print products. Product life cycle is studied from cradle the grave, starting from the forest and covering the paper manufacturing, printing and distribution to households. Finally, the impact of different end of life options is studied. Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint are the main tools applied within the project. In carbon footprint case studies, both CEPI carbon footprint guidelines and the PAS2050 guidelines have been applied. The project consists of several life cycle assessment and carbon footprint case studies. Studied product groups include heatset printed magazine, coldset web offset printed newspaper, electrophotography printed publication, sheet-fed offset printed book and rotogravure printed advertisement. Through the case studies, critical phases during the life cycle of a print product can be discovered. The aim of the project is to provide guidance on improved environmental performance, focusing especially on energy and material efficiency. Special features of carbon footprint of fibre phase products have been studied and the differences between the calculation methods have been evaluated. Additional emphasis is given also on the ways to communicate the results of carbon footprint calculations and life cycle assessments. The research is conducted in cooperation with the Finnish Environment Institute, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, FinnMedia, several printing companies, suppliers, logistics and paper manufacturer's Stora Enso, UPM-Kymmene, Myllykoski and Metsäliitto. Funding partners are StoraEnso, UPM-Kymmene, Myllykoski, Metsäliitto, Graphic industry research foundation and Finnish funding agency for Technology and Innovations.

Carbon footprint has become a key element in evaluating the emissions of greenhouse gases related to manufacturing of print products. The study defines carbon footprint of a Finnish weekly magazine and discusses the significance of the results and ways to diminish greenhouse gas emissions occurred during the product's life cycle. Energy needed in the pulp, paper and printing processes creates the main part of the emissions. Furthermore, transporting the product to customer becomes a remarkable contributor. However, current methodology involves open questions and e.g. landfill data estimations bring in great variation. The calculations provide a baseline against which the development can be measured and communicated. Lots of emphasis should be given on the communication of the results and the carbon footprint should be expressed as a range of values rather than as a single figure.