As part of a voluntary Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) commitment to the environment, National Newspapers of Ireland has pledged to provide advertising space for a Department of the Environment (DOE) press campaign.

The campaign was launched today (18 July 2012) by Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Minister Hogan T.D., launches national press campaign in support of environmental protection. (L-R): – Johnny O’Hanlon, RNPAI; David O’Connor, CCMA; Frank Cullen, NNI; Minister Hogan, T.D.,; Matt Dempsey, NNI; Paddy Matthews, Failte Ireland; Grace Aungier, Magazines Ireland; Cormac MacGearailt,EPA; Enda Buckly, Green Press Partnership.

“This campaign has been developed by my Department in conjunction with the local authorities, the EPA and Fáilte Ireland and I would like to thank each of the participating agencies for their involvement. In particular, I wish to express my appreciation to the NNI, the NNI L&R, the RNPAI and Magazines Ireland, both for making the advertising space available and for the proactive approach they have adopted with my Department in developing the campaign,” said Minister Hogan, T.D.

Matt Dempsey, Chairman of National Newspapers of Ireland said: “NNI and our Green Press Partners have invested heavily over recent years in transforming our environmental performance, particularly in relation to paper recycling. The national newsprint recycling rate exceeds 80%, one of the highest in the world. To achieve this, the Green Press Partnership has invested heavily in new systems and technology designed to optimise environmental efficiency and have introduced a number of other initiatives including environment standards protocols for the press industry and a ‘wholecopy returns’ scheme operated by newspaper wholesalers.

“NNI and its GPP partners will continue to invest in the industry’s voluntary PRI and we are delighted to provide the advertising space to the Dept of the Environment for this very important campaign,” said Dempsey.