VIABILITY
In creating What’s Cooking Good Looking, sustainability and like-minded partnerships were, and are, top of mind. Here are some ways the environment and community are put first.
Local riso printing at Outlet PDX
Woman-owned non-profit, aimed at empowering marginalized voices through print, events, and support initiatives.
“Outlet stands in solidarity with our friends and community, now and always. None of us are free until we’re all free!” - from the Outlet PDX website
“RISO ink is soy and rice oil based, and low VOC. Risographs use very little energy to run and consumables (like ink bottles) are recyclable.” - from the Outlet PDX website
The paper used for riso printing was purchased from Kelly Spicers in Portland, Oregon, a west coast distributor. Purchasing supplies locally on the West Coast reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, decreases packaging waste, and minimizes energy consumption associated with long-distance shipping. This approach also supports businesses that are often subject to stricter environmental regulations, which can lead to more sustainable manufacturing and product management practices. You can read about their steps toward reducing their environmental imprint here.
Local printing at Brown Printing Inc
“As a small business, we're only as great as our employees and we recognize that.” - from the Brown Printing website
10% recycled paper
“We recycle as many production materials as possible (offcuts, printing plates, scrap paper, etc.) and use low- or zero-VOC inks. We are also FSC-certified.” Mary Cavanaugh, Brown Printing employee and WCGL point of contact at Brown
Binding sourced from spiralbiding.com, you can read about their steps toward reducing their green initiatives here.
Packaging for Online Orders
WCGL LLC sourced
Ship via UPS Ground and USPS Media Mail. Ground transport produces significantly less CO2 than air freight for the same distance. While large, long-distance packages shipped by air have a much larger carbon footprint, even a small package shipped by ground has a lower impact.
Bubble wrap used to protect the books is sourced from Yens, a small business on the West Coast. It is made from 100% recycled materials.
Boxes used to house individual books are 100% recyclable and reusable.
We reuse shipping boxes for large orders.
Locally Written, Illustrated, and Edited
Hiring local artists is important because it strengthens the community's economic, cultural, and social fabric. It keeps money within the local economy, preserves unique community identity and heritage, fosters a vibrant local culture, and can improve the environmental impact of a project. Additionally, local artists can create more authentic and relatable projects, contribute to community engagement, and support the local workforce.
All contributors to the content in this book were able to work remotely from their own homes. Remote work benefits the environment primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through fewer commutes and less energy consumption in large office buildings. By eliminating daily travel, remote work lowers carbon dioxide (CO2cap C cap O sub 2𝐶𝑂2) and other pollutant releases into the atmosphere, improves air quality, and decreases traffic congestion. Additionally, fewer cars on the road means lower fuel consumption and a reduced demand on infrastructure, while reduced office energy needs conserve resources.
A Mark of Literary Authenticity: Human Authored
Certifying Human Creativity in an Al World
Trust • Transparency • Truth
“Human Authored is a project of the Authors Guild that allows an author to certify that their book is created by a human. “Human Authored” means that the text of the book was written by a human and not generated by AI, with the exception of minimal, trivial uses, such as AI applications that check spelling and grammar or for brainstorming or research.” - authorsguild.org
Recipe Testing and Photography
Locally sourced ingredients.
Grocery bags purchased by WCGL LLC were donated to local shops for reuse.
The food we tested and photographed was shared with friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Some recipe testers shared food with individuals experiencing houselessness.
Self-distribution
Retail stores carrying WCGL are handpicked, with the intention of supporting small businesses and communities that believe in artistic integrity, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
WCGL will not be distributed or sold through large conglomerates.
Goals
A community giveback program from future book profits is in the works.
As WCGL LLC grows, it will follow B Corp standards to reach certification.
Currently sourcing local packaging materials for book orders.
Last updated 11/9/2025