Momentum behind sustainability in publishing has been growing since 2020, with discussion and planning on a larger scale than ever before.

There is scope for small, achievable measures in the short term; in the longer term it is essential that we harness this momentum to overhaul environmentally harmful practices and replace them with resilient, ecologically responsible ones.

While the widespread (though not universal) adoption of FSC certified paper in book printing has been a major achievement in sustainable practice, the Australian book industry has to do more work on both book production and the supply chain. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to national and international supply chains, resulting in publication date pushbacks, paper shortages, printing and freight backlogs, leaving bookshops understocked at times. As in other industries, these disruptions highlight the need to focus on making the supply chain more robust.

Browse opportunities for a greener supply chain through the sections below.

This Green Bookselling Manifesto (from the UK) calls on publishers and distributors to:

  • Phase out single-use cardboard such as ‘zipper’ boxes
  • Move toward recyclable or re-usable cartons
  • Review with us the inherently wasteful returns process
  • Cease sending unsolicited proof copies to booksellers
  • Cease sending unsolicited marketing and other print material to booksellers
  • Phase out environmentally damaging packaging materials
  • Phase out the inclusion of multiple paper sheets in deliveries
  • Move to efficient, consultative paperless invoicing systems

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The environmental impact of book promotion can come from:

Point-of-sale materials:

These materials are typically displayed in bookshops for a limited amount of time around a book’s release, so have a potentially short lifespan. 

Posters, A-frames, decorations, bookmarks, and other physical marketing materials may be produced with potentially non-sustainable materials, and their storage, transport and eventual disposal all carry a carbon footprint.

Consider:

  • only sending point-of-sale advertising materials if requested by a bookshop
  • investing in green versions – made from recycled paper, metal, wood, etc

Press releases, catalogues and newsletters:

While many publishers have switched to digital catalogues, it remains standard practice at book fairs and conferences to hand out paper copies.

Consider:

  • planning the printing of such materials with care
  • a mixture of digital and print communications

Advance/Proof copies:

Sending out proof copies for review is a valuable way to widen the reach of upcoming books, but it can lead to bookshops and media receiving copies they don’t want, which go to waste.

Consider:

  • only sending copies requested by booksellers, media and other reviewers
  • switching to sending digital proofs or ebooks

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This content was last updated on 8/27/2024, with the content reviewed quarterly. Please contact us if you have any recommended updates.