There is a quiet green storm brewing in the book world. A storm that has been a long time coming, long overdue and when it hits will change the face of publishing forever.
The Independent has a brief take on the push by authors and some publishers to print their books on recycled paper.
The lowlight:
-“pulp and paper mills produce … some of the most toxic substances on Earth” wrote poet and green activist Mandy Haggith in an article published in Mslexia magazine.
Think of the smell of some of the new books you opened recently.
A few highlights:
-The Canadian editions of all the Harry Potter books since 2003 have been printed on 100% recycled paper by Rainforest Books
-Greenpeace is working on a campaign around this issue
-over 200 authors worldwide have signed on
-The Forest Stewardship Council logo appears on the books printed on recycled paper
With all the major issues facing the publishing and bookselling industries no issue is fundamentally more important than this one. What is most perplexing is that the literate crowd tends to lean green and there is very little buzz around this issue. The denial runs deep on this one.
I am also surprised that the used or resale market has not used this issue as a marketing tool since selling used books is primarily a recycling activity.
Unfortunately when selling books only online this green activity is blackened by the amount of fossil fuel it takes to transport and deliver the book to the buyer.
There still remains too many disconnects around this topic. I am sure the cost factor keeps the publishers from making too much noise about it.
This revolution needs to come from within.
If the authors won’t allow their works to be printed on non-recycled paper and the readers don’t buy them and the booksellers don’t sell them…