For most of August, I anticipated the arrival of my September issue of Vogue. When all 915 pages finally reached my doorstep, its shear size made me utterly disinterested. I couldn’t find the articles I wanted to read let alone the table of contents. I’m still searching for the cover story on Lady Gaga. Since I read my magazines while traveling to work, lugging around an extra six pounds was unrealistic, so to be honest, I haven’t read anything in the September issue except for the interview with Chelsea Clinton. In a way, the nearly 1,000 page issue was a big let down both figuratively and literally.
For most magazines, the September issue features the latest trends and what we’ll see in the stores throughout the coming seasons. The September issue is also a huge money maker, filled with hundreds of pages of advertisements. I don’t begrudge magazines making their money. However, the sheer size of just the September issues got me thinking about the environmental impact of 2000+ pages showing up in one month alone.
Over 13 million people receive the September issue of Vogue*, meaning 1,189,500,000 pages were printed last month for readers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that 1.5 billion tons of magazines entered municipal waste system, and of that total, 54% of magazines were able to be recycled. Unlike other paper products, magazines aren’t recycled to create more magazines. Instead, they go to paperboard products like cereal boxes, tissues and printer paper.
Seeing as only half of all magazines sent to the recycling center are actually recycled, what is our responsibility as consumers when we subscribe and purchase our favorite magazines? Should we all switch to digital copies of our favorite magazines? Share what you think!
*Source from The September Issue and is based on a 2007 figure.
mirenzish
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Wow didn’t even think about all that waste from magazines. I also bought the September issue of Vogue and haven’t read it … it’s so big and takes forever to find the article I’m looking for
Stela D recently talked about September Topbox + Balenciaga Bonus!
I seriously never thought of it until that September issue arrived! I never even found the Table of Contents. What a waste.
I stopped buying fashion magazines and subscriptions because having the paper around annoyed me and I didn’t like how much waste was generated, even though I recycled them. I also didn’t like having to haul so much paper while traveling. Now that magazines are making interactive apps for iPad that are actually pretty good, I’m finding myself buying subscriptions again. I like the content delivered in a more convenient and environmentally-friendly way. I wonder if Vogue has even bothered to go the outline route.
I honestly never thought about this until last month when that copy of Vogue arrived and half of the nearly 1000 pages were ads. Is it really necessary? Nope!
I think if I had an ipad or tablet, I might subscribe digitally, but I only have a black and white Nook, so I’m afraid I’m out of luck. I think in the future digital subscriptions will become more popular as tablets become more affordable.
Courtney recently talked about Lush and The Unnatural Truth
To be honest, I don’t buy magazines much any more– I read them once and recycle them. When I saw a great LIving Social deal on Elle and Harper’s, I decided to splurge. That being said, I always try to recycle them, pass them along to girlfriends, or donate them to the library. It’s insane to me that so many copies are NEEDED, especially with virtual content so easily accessible now. The environmental impact of them bothers me a lot as well.
Ashe @ Ash in Fashion recently talked about A Hurricane Party Got Out of Control
Exactly! Hopefully over time magazines will go more and more online. Sadly, I think this means magazines will eventually become obsolete. If only they didn’t need so many ads…
The ads create such a vicious cycle in them– as they keep decreasing the costs of subscriptions (because seriously, I paid $5. And having set up a deal through Living Social, I know the company typically takes 50-70%, which means they’re literally making $2 per subscription), they’ve GOT to pick up more advertisers to cover costs, no? Or maybe production is a LOT cheaper than I imagining. Which would make me sad, to see the cost of paper & trees be so cheap…
Maybe magazines will go more the route of books? Slightly more limited printing, higher cost, but we’ll value them more?
Ashe @ Ash in Fashion recently talked about A Hurricane Party Got Out of Control
You’re right–it is a vicious cycle. They need to make more money to cover the shortfall by the falling subscription price. I remember when I was a teen, it was around $15-$20 to subscribe to a magazine. Now it’s $5-$9. And as a result, we get half a magazine of ads alone. It’s not sustainable and it’s only a matter or time before they put themselves out of business.
I was so disappointed in Vogue for its wretched photoshop job on Lady Gaga so soon after they pledged to promote healthier body image among models. My daughter noticed it first and it gave us an opportunity to discuss and compare Gaga’s actual photo shoot pictures with the finished product. (easy to find with a Google search)
And I agree that September issue is a ridiculous and impractical weight!
That’s a great conversation to have with your daughter and it’s striking that she noticed it first! For others reading this comment, here’s a link comparing the actual shoot to the final cover:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/lady-gaga-vogue-photoshop-cover-366873
I know they always brag how big the September issue is, but it’s not bigger for the reader, it’s bigger for advertisers. Don’t give me 200 extra pages of ads and act like you’re doing me some sort of favor!
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