Numerous readers have written to the BCMJ recently expressing concerns about the plastic bags that print issues of the journal are occasionally wrapped in. We wholeheartedly agree with readers’ concerns about plastics, which is why we don’t use them. The bags we use are plant-based and compostable. Furthermore, we rarely use these compostable bags. We discourage advertisers from this type of enclosure and try to steer them to print inside the journal. Over time, we’ve successfully moved away from this type of advertising. However, we are also not in a position to refuse revenue from this source as we are a membership-funded publication and all advertising helps us defray publishing costs.

The BCMJ seeks to minimize its negative impact on the environment by:

• Supporting members who wish to read online with an e-subscription to www.bcmj.org [9].
• Avoiding bag use, and using certified-compostable plant-based bags when needed.
• Working with Mitchell Press, ranked third in North America for sustainability by canopy.org.
• Printing with vegetable-based inks.
• Using FSC-certified paper. 
• Printing locally in British Columbia.

What else we’re doing, thanks to your feedback:

• We’re looking into printing “compostable” on the bags we use.
• We have added a note to our masthead page about the bags, and about our other environmental practices.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to us. It’s a good reminder that we need to be more explicit about our environmentally aware practices—and that we should always strive to do more.
—Ed