Buying books and reading books are two separate hobbies. Nothing beats the thrill of going to a bookshop, browsing for a few hours, and then leaving the shop with more books than you originally went in for. So, how can bookworms keep up this passion for reading in a sustainable way?
According to WordsRated, book publishing is the third largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter. Around 10 million trees are killed for the production of books that eventually end up getting destroyed rather than read.
Rest assured — I’m not about to tell you to sell all of your books and never buy one again! I’m just going to tell you how you can continue fueling your addiction in a more responsible way.
Buying secondhand
The obvious choice is to start buying secondhand. You can find books in nearly every charity shop in the country, and there are quite a few second-hand bookshops dotted around.
There are also websites dedicated to selling secondhand books like AbeBooks and World Of Books. Buying secondhand is a win-win! It’s a cheaper and more sustainable option, and you still get a book! What’s even better is, if you’re someone who cares more for sentimentality than book pristineness, you can find a book that has notes or handwritten dedications already inside from previous readers! It’s so special.
I’d also like to add that nothing can beat the shock that comes with finding a book you’re actually looking for in a random tiny charity shop. It’s all well and good finding a book you’re looking for in a shop that is supposed to have it, but finding one in a place you never thought you would? How exciting!
Donating and selling
Heaven forbid you bin a book when it’s so simple to donate or sell online. Do your part to increase the life cycle of a book: gift to friends, donate to a charity shop, exchange them at a Little Free Library, or sell online! There are so many accessible alternatives to wasting good books. Plus, the more people donate, the more decent options to be found second-hand, and the less you’ll need to buy from new!
Independent book shops
I’m not going to completely discourage you from buying new books. Nothing beats that thrill, and buying second-hand severely hinders your ability to find newly released books. But you could always try to shop independently.
The novelty of an independent bookshop is unmatched, and who doesn’t love supporting local businesses? You would be surprised to learn just how many independent bookshops there are out there.
I’ve heard so many people say that they don’t shop at independent bookshops because they’re more expensive — I can confidently say that I have never been charged more at an independent than I have at a Waterstones, for example. They are exactly the same, but the experience at an independent book shop is infinitely better.
According to BigIssue, at the end of last year, there were 1,063 indie bookshop BA members in the UK and Ireland – down from 1,072 in 2022. So, although the numbers are slowly declining, there are still so many to discover and support.
Kindles and E-Readers
There’s also the option to convert and go completely paper free. I’d look at purchasing a Kindle or an e-reader as a more convenient, cheaper (in the long-term), and less wasteful investment. Kindles and e-readers aren’t completely without their flaws (in relation to sustainability), but they offer a step forward. If you’re someone who is reading 14 different books or more in one year, e-books are going to have a lower footprint than physical (if you only buy new rather than second-hand) according to A Drop in the Ocean.
Consumerism
Ok, how many copies of the same book does one person actually need?
Answer: One.
What could you possibly need 20 (or even two) different copies of the same book for? They can’t all seriously serve a different purpose — the purpose of a book is to read it.
Don’t tell me you need every special edition because they’re all so pretty blah blah blah…If you aren’t going to read it (because we all know you would never DARE read that expensive limited edition copy), then why do you need it?
You don’t.
It is ridiculous how much people are willing to spend on a book that they already own and that they will never ever read, because it’s going to spend its life sitting pretty on a shelf. What a waste.
Libraries
Look, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t use my library anymore. My books are like trophies — I have to keep them on my shelves! But if you’re more likely to buy tons of books every year, keep them on your shelf, and never read them rather than buy a book and read it immediately, maybe you should consider saving your money and head to your local library. And if you like the book that much that you’d consider reading it again in the future, then officially buy the book and keep it on your shelf for later!
Reading sustainably
I made a deal with myself at the start of the year that I wouldn’t buy any books unless I was going to read them right after the purchase. Have I kept to this rule? Of course not.
Like I said before, buying and reading books are two different hobbies.
But in an effort to be a more responsible consumer, I am planning to start sticking to my rule. I’m going to continue donating the books I don’t need on my shelf. I’m not going to buy that special copy of Pride and Prejudice I’ve been ogling at for years — I have a perfectly good copy at home. I might even go to my library.
There are so many simple acts you can implement into your hobby to make it more sustainable, so why would you not?
