Climate

Running is famously a simple activity with few requirements. But one element we believe is absolutely essential is somewhere safe – and ideally pleasant – to run. That is why we have always tried to be as kind to the environment as possible.

From day one of Like the Wind, we have used paper that is approved by the Forest Stewardship Council and comes from renewable, sustainable sources. We also insist on working with printers who are at the forefront of sustainable practices in putting ink on paper (there is more on that below). Additionally, we started LtW with a business model that minimises waste: traditionally publishers would print many times more copies than they knew would sell and ‘distribute’ them to newsagents, who would sell a few (often half or less of the copies they received) and throw away the rest. Like the Wind is primarily sold directly to our readers and so we print what we know we will sell, meaning very little waste. We also do our best to use local writers and photographers for features so that we aren’t flying people around the world to create the stories in the magazine.

Despite all that we have done, we know there is more we can do.

Since Earth Day of 2022, Like the Wind has made efforts to replace the trees that we use.

Based on calculations from our printer, each drop of Like the Wind uses ~17-24 trees. We’re taking the highest estimate, 24 trees, and replanting those after each issue drops. We’re doing this via Active Giving which is partnering with the . Each tree will cost Like the Wind €1 plus a 5km run – which the Like the Wind team will run off through Active Giving 😊.

In our first planting efforts, we planted 272 trees in tandem with Active Giving and the Eden: People+Planet project. Presently, Active Giving is focusing the plantation efforts in Kenya/Tanzania/Mozambique through Earth Lungs (and their verification partner Veritree). As the trees establish themselves the forest canopy repairs itself generating leaf litter, improving water quality and encouraging wildlife to return. Meanwhile, local communities, facing poverty are given new economic self-sufficiency opportunities, improved health and education. 

Our aim is to always improve what we do at Like the Wind – including the quality of the writing and imagery in the magazine, the design and the production. We know that replanting trees is a small step. But as with running, we believe all the small steps aggregate into something much bigger. If you want to find out more or make suggestions for how we can continue to improve, please drop us a line.