How to buy books Ethically and Sustainably
Books are invaluable in our development as individuals and as a society. They enable new ideas to be shared with the masses and create fantasies we can disappear into, but there’s no getting away from the negative impact they are having on the planet and in some cases, on people as well.
Since joining a Book Club a year ago I’m buying more books than I have for many years and like with all my purchases I am conscious about the impact it’s having on the planet so look to buy ethically and sustainably.
Here are three switches you can make to buy your books ethically and sustainably.
1. Buy Second-Hand
It’s obvious that creating a new book is going to have a substantial impact on our planet - from the trees cut down to making paper to the chemicals used for the ink.
On top of this, if a book finds itself in landfill, its decomposition generates double the global warming emissions and toxic impacts on local water systems as when it was manufactured.
Buying second-hand books extend the life cycle of the book, avoiding the negative impact it would create if thrown away and reducing the impact in manufacturing by not buying a new one. An additional bonus of buying second-hand is that they will also save you money - which means more money for books.
Where can I buy second-hand?
World of Books is my go-to second-hand book retailer, the largest in the UK, who buy unsold inventory of used books mostly from UK charity shops that they resell to the general public via their online platform.
I’ve been surprised by the quality of the books I’ve got. Some of which I’d think were brand new.
2. Buy from an Independent
If the new book smell isn’t something you’re ready to give up on yet, the next best alternative when buying books is buying from a local or independent retailer.
Buying from an independently owned business means that your money is having an impact in your local community. It is spent on creating employment for local people, supporting other local businesses that are part of their supply chain and tax remains in the local community to support other community activities.
Where can I find independent book shops?
A quick search on the internet or ask of friends or family will help you uncover the local independent book shops in your area.
In 2020 Bookshop.org launched in the UK to create a convenient way to support independent bookshops across the nation. Here you can buy a broad range of books that will come from an independent in the UK. You even have the option to find your local independent and buy directly from them.
3. Download the Book
If you’re an avid reader, another impactful way to buy books sustainably is by downloading the audio or written version instead.
The carbon footprint of an e-reader device is around 168kg and one book is on average 7.5kg. So if you read more than 23 books on the device over its lifetime (on average a 4-year lifespan), you’ll have less of a negative impact on the planet.
Where can I download books?
The only challenge I have at the moment with this option is that the only downloadable options that have the breadth of books I need are on Amazon products - Audible or Kindle.
So my ask to you is, do you have any recommendations you can make for alternatives that I can switch to?
I hope these three options give you a starting point on how to continue feeding your curiosity but not at the cost of people and the planet. Happy reading.
10 Books that made an Impact in 2021
At the end of every year, I review the top books that have made an impact and I’ve captured my personal top 10 books from 2021 with key takeaways for each in another post