Hello woodies. As you know, my priority is to protect our beautiful planet and especially the forests where I live. However, when we are passionate about literature, protecting the planet can sometimes seem impossible. So today I'm going to give you some tips to have a more responsible reading!
1. Check the PEFC standard
More and more you can see this nice logo on the last page of your book. But then what is it?
PEFC stands for Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. For 20 years this program has been fighting for deforestation by having a controlled and regulated use of forests. It also acts for the recognition of the social dimension of forests.
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- that the forest owner who grew the wood and the forest manager who harvested and transported the wood have implemented PEFC sustainable forest management practices,
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- that all the companies who then transformed and marketed this wood applied the PEFC traceability rules.
So if you want to buy a new book, take a look at the last page. If the PEFC logo is present then it's already a big step towards a more responsible reading!
2. Buy in bookstores
We all know that. The production of books requires a lot of resources, wood, water, but also electricity. These are factors that are unfortunately not compressible. However, we can limit overconsumption by buying from local bookstores.
So if you want to read responsibly, boycott the very famous shopping platforms that I won't mention. These require considerable resources:
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- Huge storage rooms that need to be maintained, heated, lit... I wouldn't want to have to pay their electricity bill!
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- To have such buildings requires space, which is not available everywhere. Therefore, as soon as you place an order, you request polluting transports. These can be avoided if you buy directly from your bookseller!
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- Another factor and not the least: the internet servers. Well yes, to have such a marketplace, it requires substantial computer equipment. Hardware that consumes a lot of energy...
Clearly, buying in a bookstore is more responsible than buying on the internet!
3. Look at the print location
Most of the big publishing houses use foreign printers. It costs them less. However, you have to bring them to France and to every bookshop, library, so that they finally land on your doorstep.
Some publishers will even have their books printed in China! So a simple look at the location of the printing plant can make a big difference in the ecological impact of your book.
4. Prefer paper books to e-readers
The health crisis has created a digitalization boom. More and more people have invested in an e-reader to replace their paper book consumption. According to a 2021 study, 17% of those surveyed say they read computer books compared to 8% in 2018. However, is it more environmentally friendly?
The agency of the ecological transition has published conclusions on this subject in 2022. The figures are nuanced. Contrary to what one might think, the e-reader has a lesser ecological impact compared to reading a paper book depending on the intensity of use. The e-reader is only profitable from more than 10 readings per year if and only if the paper books are bought new and read only once.
5. Buy on Sharebooks!
And yes, the platform is coming soon ! Buying your books on Sharebooks allows you to give a second life to already read books. Moreover, you don't need any specific transport to bring your book at home. Indeed, you are in connection only with passionate readers near you. You fight against the massive destruction of books by working for the local and circular economy. What more could you ask for?
So my dear woodies, no more worries. It is possible to read responsibly while being passionate about literature. And you, what are your tips to have an eco-responsible reading?
See you soon my dear woodies.
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