I love to read and I know many of you here on steemit do too.
There's nothing quite like the feeling of settling down after a long day, relaxing in bed or your favourite comfy spot and opening the pages of that book that screamed "read me". I often wonder what impact the production of new books has on the environment though. For that reason, most of my book collection is on Kindle. If I can't get it on Kindle I will try to find it used.
Amazon is a really good source for this. You can pretty much find a used version of any book there. Particularly handy when you live in another country and can't find books in your native language.
There are also other online used book sellers.
Another benefit of reading from a digital device is there is no need for a light. The settings can also be adjusted to avoid the problems that come with blue light. There's a night mode, blue light reducer, brightness adjuster. All these can help combat the problems associated with sleep deprivation from using digital devices.
Why it's important to reuse or go digital with your books.
This is the part where I slap some statistics in front of you. So here goes:
- 15 Billion trees are cut down each year for paper
- The book industry consumes over 1 million tons of paper each year.
- The world consumes more than 300 million tons of paper each year
- Paper manufacturing plants release hazardous chemicals such as chlorine dioxide, formaldehyde and methanol into the air and waterways.
Another, less known fact is that tree farming, although justifies reduction in deforestation, actually adversely affects biodiversity and contributes to soil erosion. This is due to the combination of lack of biodiversity from the trees being harvested at such a young age. This prevents the soil around from gaining nutrients as it lacks the flora and animal life to be able to create the micronutrients that enrich the soil. The long term effect of this is that the land where these trees are farmed will eventually be unable to sustain them.
Alternative ways to make paper
Some paper manufacturers make conscious choices to use alternative plant and vegetation to make paper.
Plants that make great paper alternatives to wood are hemp, bamboo, flax, wheat and straw. These plants have fibrous material that is equally good at producing pulp to make paper.
Recycling paper, reclaimed wood and waste wood products from the production of timber are all viable ways to reduce the number of trees felled each year for paper production.
Eco-Conscious Book Publishers
The Greenpress Initiative has been working with publishers over the last 10 years to encourage them to include recycled and sustainable paper and reduce the amount of virgin paper used to produce books. There is a Treatise in place that a number of publishers have signed. They have a leadership council and below is a list of the publishers who are members of this.
Baker Publishing Group
Chronicle Books
Continuum Publishing
Dirigo Paper Company
Green Press Initiative
Harvard University Press
Lantern Books
New Leaf Paper
Square One Publishers
Thomson-Shore Book Manufacturing
Sources:
Nature.com
WWF
The Green Press Initiative
How do you read your books? What alternatives and improvements do you think can be made in the book industry to reduce the impact of deforestation on our beautiful planet.
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I buy second hand books, I use ABE books which is a great online company selling second hand books, I have resisted going digital as I love the smell and feel of a book. Thank you for the list of Eco Conscious book publishers xxx hope the move is going well, much love to you lovely xx
Great advice! There are so many wonderful second hand bookstores out there. Support your local book dealer!
GREAT info! I can definitely say I am doing my part to conserve trees,the Earth and paper... I have most of my books in e-pubbed form on my kindle and tablet. I never realized HOW many millions of tons of paper were being used until reading this post.
🤗🤗🤗🤗❤
Similar to @trucklife-family I could spend hours and hours in a second hand book shop, they are just the most fascinating places. Craig always has to drag me out of them! Great post 😀😘💚
You're welcome to sift through the 9 boxes we are bringing with us. Although most of the paper stuff is educational for the boys. I have some lovely books on permaculture and eco building though ❤❤
YES! books on permaculture and eco-building sounds so interesting. Looking forward to that 😘👍
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