Reusable travel mug? Check.
Reusable water bottle? Check.
Reusable shopping bag? Check.
You get the point. Being mindful of the environment and sustainability is something Gen and I have focused on for years now. Shampoo bars, metal straws, beeswax wraps… There are so many ways to cut down on plastic and single-use items but with the amount we read, I started to wonder how we could do that sustainably too.
I can’t even imagine how many millions of books are printed every year. Think about your bookshelf multiplied by all the bookish people you know. Add to that all the bookstores and all the people you don’t know across the entire world with their home libraries…
That’s a lot of books and it has to be taking a huge toll on the environment. Just like single-use plastics and going zero-waste though, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being aware and making an effort. And, it’s actually easier than you think. I bet you’ve already done things to read sustainably without even knowing it.
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“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Anne Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef
Here Are 5 Ways To Read Sustainably
In order to read sustainably, we need to look at how to reduce the number of books thrown away or sitting on our bookshelves unread. There’s also an added bonus to reading sustainably: you’re going to save money. Here’s how:
1. Get an eReader
With one small device like a Kobo or Kindle, you can carry an entire library with you anywhere you go. While manufacturing electronic devices does have some environmental caveats, after about a year, the carbon footprint is offset.
No new trees are being cut down. You’re saving paper and shelf space! Going digital also makes it even easier to buy books (maybe that isn’t a good thing…) – one click and you instantly have a book without having to worry about transport and packaging. Digital copies of books are often cheaper than the hard copies we’ve been buying in the past too.
2. Listen to Audiobooks
Most of us have a smartphone with us at all times; meaning, you’ve got all you need to listen to audiobooks. I talk more about audiobooks (and eReaders) in my last post. This may be the best way to read sustainably, because no extra devices are required.
3. Get a Library Card
Libraries are essential to communities and you can get more than just books. They now have so much more to borrow, including:
- eBooks
- audiobooks
- magazines,
- courses
- classes
- other programming
The Reference Library in Toronto has a cute Balzac’s coffee shop and winding stairs to explore (when it’s safe to do so). Gen and I have even taken a yoga class there! Not only are you able to read sustainably by borrowing library books instead of buying new ones, but you get to be a part of a vital community resource.
4. Buy Used Books
This may be my favourite way to read sustainably. You’re supporting local businesses and finding unique copies of your favourite books.
I love wandering through BMV in Toronto or Mercer Street Books in New York. There’s something special about the smell and vibe of a used bookstore.
While some people need the newest and shiniest copy of a book, I like finding a crisp used copy and the secret notes the previous reader left behind. You can also head to your favourite thrift shop and browse through their book section. Reading isn’t just about the latest release. By shopping places like this, you could find a bookish diamond in the rough and read sustainably doing it.
5. Organize Book Swaps
Imagine a world where getting together with friends was safe. Ready? Okay, now bake up some treats, gather your friends, and have a book swap. No matter how many books you have or how much you love them, let’s be real, you have books you can live without. Let someone else enjoy them.
Hang out and catch up with friends. Tell them why you loved the books you brought and why you think they will feel the same. Swap and trade books. Find some new reads you wouldn’t have found on your own. Give some old books new love. Books aren’t single use. They need love and multiple reads. Think of them like a reusable story receptacle.
Living Sustainably in 2020 Meant Reading Sustainably
This year hasn’t made it easy to lead with sustainability, but everyone’s safety is more important than being able to use a cloth grocery bag or my favourite coffee tumbler. Finding ways to read sustainably has been how I’ve felt most connected to the environment.
There are a few other ways to up your sustainability game in 2020:
- Find places that only use recyclable packaging.
- Switch to personal items that don’t come in plastic.
- Grow your own food and compost if you can.
- And take an amazing passion like reading and do it sustainably.
