Article Processing Chargres
Article Processing Charges (APC)
Our Current Policy
GSMS Publications is committed to making high-quality, open-access publishing accessible to researchers worldwide. To support this mission, all article processing charges (APCs) are fully waived for manuscripts submitted during the first three volumes of each journal.
This means there are no fees at any stage — submission, peer review, processing, or publication. Authors retain full copyright of their work, and all published articles are immediately available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) license.
APC Waiver Period
The following table shows the current APC status for each of our journals:
| Journal | Current Volume | APC Status |
|---|---|---|
| Greensusmater | Vol. 2 (2025) | ✓ Free — Waived until Vol. 3 |
| Green and Sustainable Membranes | Vol. 1 (2025) | ✓ Free — Waived until Vol. 3 |
| Green and Sustainable Environments | Vol. 1 (2026) | ✓ Free — Waived until Vol. 3 |
Why No APC?
Our Philosophy
We believe that financial barriers should never prevent good research from being published. As an emerging publisher, our priority is to build a strong foundation of high-quality, peer-reviewed content — and to earn the trust of the global research community through editorial integrity, not revenue.
During this introductory period, all publishing costs — including editorial management, peer review coordination, digital hosting, DOI registration, and indexing — are fully funded by the Green and Sustainable Materials Society (GSMS).
What Authors Receive — At No Cost
- Rigorous peer review — Independent expert evaluation of every submission
- Professional editorial workflow — From submission to publication on the OJS platform
- DOI registration — Via Crossref for every published article
- Indexing & discoverability — Google Scholar, Dimensions, ROAD, and more
- Permanent open access — Immediate, unrestricted access worldwide
- Author copyright retention — Authors keep full rights to their work
- PDF and HTML publication — Multiple reading formats
Future APC Policy
After the Waiver Period
Once a journal completes its first three volumes, a modest APC may be introduced to sustain long-term publishing operations. Any future APC will be:
- Significantly lower than major commercial publishers
- Transparent — clearly communicated well in advance
- Fair — with generous waiver and discount policies
Planned Waiver & Discount Program
When APCs are introduced, the following support mechanisms will be available:
- Full waiver — for authors from low-income countries (World Bank classification)
- 50% discount — for authors from lower-middle-income countries
- Hardship waiver — case-by-case review for authors without institutional funding
- Reviewer discount — for researchers who contribute to peer review
No manuscript will ever be rejected based on the author's ability to pay. Editorial decisions are strictly independent from financial considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really no cost to publish?
Correct. During the waiver period (first 3 volumes per journal), there are absolutely no charges — no submission fee, no processing fee, no publication fee, and no page charges.
When will APCs be introduced?
APCs will only be considered after a journal has published its third volume. Authors will be notified well in advance of any changes. Manuscripts submitted during the free period will not be retroactively charged.
Will my accepted paper be held until I pay?
No. During the waiver period, no payment is required at any stage. When APCs are eventually introduced, payment will only be requested after formal acceptance — never before peer review is completed.
How is this financially sustainable?
GSMS Publications is funded by the Green and Sustainable Materials Society. The waiver period is a deliberate investment in building a high-quality journal portfolio. Long-term sustainability will be achieved through modest APCs, institutional partnerships, and society funding.
I have more questions about APCs
Please contact us at publications@greensus.org — we are happy to assist.