We’re reminded almost daily About the environmental impact of commuting to work, buying the wrong detergent, and how we should all shop local. But what about the thing us book-lovers love the most? Just what impact does our love of all things books have, and how can we make little changes to be kinder to our planet in pursuit of the perfect read?
I am by no means an expert, and one of my own resolutions is to further educate and better my own knowledge on environmental changes, be it with my passions or my day to day life. I will, however, try my best to discuss and suggest ways in which we can all do our own bit to help the planet and still enjoy our hobby.
Shop local:
I am the biggest culprit when it comes to shopping for and buying books online, especially when it comes to buying from those larger chains to save a little bit of money. However, another resolution of mine is to shop for and buy my books locally when possible. This not only helps put money into our local areas, (which is desperately needed in our current Covid climate) but also helps to cut down our carbon footprint. Even as more and more courier companies make the switch to electric delivery vans, which we must commend, the impact is still very much apparent.
There is also such a thrill when you get to walk around a bookstore, pick up books and talk to a fellow book lover. Especially in small, independent stores. It’s even better if they have that bookish smell. If you know, you know. Double win and we still get to buy more books! Sorry bank account.
Buy second hand:
In addition to shopping local, we can further reduce our carbon footprint by buying second hand where possible. Charity shops have some real bargains if you allow yourself the time and patience to have a good root around. Countless times I’ve found books in pristine condition in my local charity shops. And even if a book isn’t in the best condition, what’s wrong with that? I know many of us desire those shelves of pristine books, but is there anything wrong with a book that has been loved and enjoyed? No, of course not.
Not only are we helping our local economy and the environment, but we are also putting money into worthy charitable organisations. I am guilty of always wanting new releases and pristine copies, but there really are some real gems to be found hidden in those charity shops.
Plus charity shops are not the only way to buy second hand. Look on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and yes even Amazon often holds second-hand copies. Not only can you save a book from the landfill, but you can often save a penny in the process.
Book swaps:
Something that I would love to get into this year is book swapping. We all have books we want our friends or family to read. So instead of encouraging them to go and buy new, why not swap with them for another read they have?! This way, we aren’t buying new books be it brand new or pre-loved, and allowing our friends to fall in love with one of our favourites while also getting to discover a new read ourselves. We can also sell our books online (Depop, eBay, Facebook etc). Let someone else discover it, make some money from our loved books, and stop bookish waste.
E-readers, E-Books and Audio Books:
We don’t have to always read physical books, either. Kindles have exploded in popularity, and listening to audio books is also a great alternative. I personally love my kindle for the simple fact I can carry 100+ books around with me on a device that fits in my handbag and I can freely pick and choose what and when to read. Have you ever tried to carry 100+ books around?! I haven’t and I wouldn’t want to - unless I had just bought them…
It’s also incredibly easy to read on the go, too! The same goes for audio books, they are great to listen to when we’re on the go, or just pottering around the house. Both of these paperback alternatives are great ways to cut back on our physical book count, which is both good for the physical tbr, our bookshelves and the environment.
But it’s worth pointing out that E-readers are not the perfect answer. The world faces a growing problem with E-waste, and electronic items being thrown away long before they’re actually dead to the world. Consider saving a second-hand E-reader from the scrap pile, commit to using yours until its untimely end, or alternatively, take to reading on your phone or tablet you already own! There are a multitude of ways to enjoy books as a digital medium.
It would be disingenuous of me to mention all of this and not mention the biggest impact of all. Books are printed on paper. I am sure that many of us, myself included, would not mind one bit paying a little bit more to be safe in the knowledge that our new read has been printed on recycled paper, and not another tree that has been felled from a forest. This one falls on the publishers, who should make a stand and a commitment to bring more books to market in sustainable print.
So there you have it, a few ways in which we can help the environment, still love books and book buying and never have to miss out! I’m sure if we all make one little change then it ultimately results in one big change.
Blog post by Sarah @readersramblings
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