As the seasons change and we begin to look for activities that allow us to stay indoors we have a plethora of options at our fingertips. One such option is reading a book. But can this beloved pastime have a happily ever after?
From the beginning
Every story has a beginning, and when it comes to books, the beginning doesn’t start with walking into the library or a store to purchase the book. Rather, it begins with planting trees. There are forests where trees are grown specifically to produce pulp which then gets refined with chemicals to produce paper (Af&FP, 2023). It takes about ten to fifteen years of growth before these trees can be harvested for paper.
In the middle
Publishing companies must also consider the profitability of books, often ordering more than is necessary to charge customers less. This results in an abundance of books purchased that may not be read (McCarthy, 2021). Overproducing books to reduce costs could come from other avenues. There are alternative measures which can be used to lower the cost of books. For example, the per-ordering process could be used to determine the demand for the book, so that the number provided to the publishers is more realistic.
The end
Customers who purchase the books close the final page and add it to their shelves. But that doesn’t have to be the end. There are ways for consumers to recycle books ensuring that future publications do not not have to come from “virgin paper” or paper that was not previously used for another purpose. Additionally e-books and digital readers, which offer readers the flexibility to take a whole library in the palm of their hands. The benefits of digitizing books extend further than the quantity of books but also the quality of reading for consumers. It is estimated that about 1 out of 10 adults in the US have dyslexia, estimating to about 40 million adults having dyslexia and only 2 million diagnosed (Elias, 2023). When books are digitized there are text-to-read options available which allow dyslexic readers the accessibility to enjoy books. Another option are audiobooks which allow listeners to multitask and enjoy the storytelling from reading without having to set aside time to read if it doesn’t fit within their schedule solely.
Moving forward, the solution is to urge publishing companies to either go digital or invest in recycled paper as a source of books. For example, a journalist from the Independent mentioned his climate goal of making sure books either go digital or are on post-recycled paper by 2050 (McCarthy, 2021). In our climate-conscious era, we must reexamine how our materials are made. This notion also extends to other types of books, including textbooks. In our schools and institutions, it takes about a year for a textbook to be updated and replaced with the latest edition. However, the latest edition may only have a couple of photos changed or a few phrases added. Next thing you realize that for every year since the textbook was published, there was a “new” edition of the textbook available.
As the seasons change and we look to our favorite pastime of reading here are some options you can take towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
- Check out a book from the library
- Try reading on a digital device (phone, e-reader, audiobook)
- Check on the inside page of the book at the bookstore to see if it was printed on recycled paper, if not reach out to the publishing house or author
- Check out used bookstores
- Recycle the books you don’t mind giving to new readers (your public library, free little libraries, etc,.)
Works Cited
“How the Paper Industry Champions Sustainable Forestry.” Paper Industry Champions Sustainable Forestry | AF&PA, 3 Aug. 2023, www.afandpa.org/news/2023/how-paper-industry-champions-sustainable-forestry.
McCarthy, Donnachadh. “Opinion: The Book Industry Fells Billions of Trees – Authors Must Demand Recycled Paper.” The Independent, The Independent, 15 Feb. 2021, www.the-independent.com/climate-change/opinion/climate-crisis-books-trees-paper-b1801446.html.
Elias, Mark. “21 Dyslexia Statistics & Facts: How Common Is It?” Discovery ABA, 31, Oct, 2023,www.discoveryaba.com/statistics/dyslexia#:~:text=Around%201%20out%20of%2010,of%20them%20receiving%20a%20diagnosis. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Done R, Warner R, Noorda R. Publishing Distribution Practices: New Insights About Eco-Friendly Publishing, Sustainable Printing and Returns, and Cost-Effective Delivery in the U.S. Pub Res Q. 2022;38(2):364–81. doi: 10.1007/s12109-022-09882-5. Epub 2022 May 5. PMCID: PMC9071240.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect nor represent the Earth Chronicles and its editorial board.
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