How to Rediscover Your Love for Books AND Keep The Environment in Mind
—by Hannah LaJoye
What was the last book you read? Now, before you cower and decide that this article isn’t for you, allow me the chance to promise you two things: First, I promise to make you fall in love with reading or, at the very least, develop a crush! Second, I will show you how reading can positively impact the environment. Still reading? ;)
Rediscovering Reading and Learning About Its Importance
In school, one of the first things we learn to do is read. Reading is integral for learning in an academic setting and our everyday lives. From corporate emails to street signs, we encounter words and text everyday, and we read everyday. So from the looks of it, you are already a reader!
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader”
This quote comes from Margaret Fuller, a journalist and an influential figure during the Women’s Rights Movement. I think that we can all agree that change is hard. It is easy to remain stagnant and unmoving in our lives. If no one forces us to change, change remains a choice for us to make. But, if I can be so bold, I would like to ask you to commit to a small change today. Will you start reading?
Photo by Florencia Viadana on Unsplash
I myself re-discovered my love of reading about two years ago. When you spend time in a good book, you learn about the characters and the world the author is building, and more about who you are as a person. According to a 2022 Statista study, adults ages 25-54 read less than 20 minutes a day. While that might not seem like an appalling statistic, this population reads less than any other age group. And when you consider that this age bracket makes up the majority of our workforce, that statistic starts to hold more weight. Reading is what broadens our minds and opens up a world of choices. A world of changes. So again, I will ask you, will you start reading?
Consuming Books While Incorporating Green Reading Habits
So how do reading and climate change connect? As many of us know, climate change is the result of choices. Change is both the result of our active choices and our stagnant choices. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the scientific jargon and statistics that outline climate change. Many companies will advertise their products as “green” or “clean," but that label holds little importance. The one thing that we are in control of is our consumption.
We consume books as a way of gaining perspective and gaining information. I will tell you there is no such thing as consuming too many books. But I will also say there is such a thing as creating too many books. Uh, oh!! How ominous, Hannah!
The printing business is responsible for 40 Million tons of carbon dioxide and cuts down about 32 million trees annually.
“When it takes one entire tree to print only 25 books, statisticians estimate that over the next decade, 3.4 billion trees will be cut down to meet the demand for book printing.”
There are ways to combat these statistics. There are non-profits centered on using post-consumer recycled paper, and authors can have their books printed based on demand instead of larger batches. But what can you do to help combat these statistics?
Questions to Ask Yourself For Eco-Conscious Reading
So how do you form more sustainable reading practices? When you buy a book, ask yourself how many times you'll read it. Ask yourself: Am I buying this book to read once? If the answer is yes, put it back on the shelf, bestie! I encourage you to think of your bookshelves as a quaint library. Lend out your books, or trade them with friends!
Another thing you can do to lessen your carbon footprint is simple: Go to the library! All you need to obtain a library card is your ID or mail with your name and address.
Photo by Shunya Koide on Unsplash
If you are familiar with Libby, you can access your library's content online or via cell phone. You can check out audiobooks, magazines, and ebooks without leaving your home! Which leads me to my next suggestion…invest in a Kindle/E-Reader.
“The total carbon footprint of an e-reader is 370 pounds. When a printed book’s carbon footprint is around 16.5 pounds, that means that you would need to read 22-23 books on an e-reader to offset the environmental impact of a printed book.”
The average Kindle/E-Reader costs the same as five hardcover books and often have interest-free payment plans. I am the romantic type who loves the whimsical charm of a physical book. However, I have found that I can easily read on the go with my Kindle, and it's made my physical library more precious to me. My Kindle has allowed me to be a responsible book buyer. My Kindle has allowed me to build green reading habits by reading without having to destroy trees.
There are many things that are out of our control in the fight against climate change. But when it comes to learning, I urge you to lean into the world of books and become an eco-conscious reader. Books that are academic. Books that are whimsical. Books with romance, and danger, and worlds unimaginable otherwise. Books are a place to see change and to make choices. Books are a warm hug, welcoming you to take change into your own hands. And since I am a woman of my word, I must leave you with one final question: Have you developed a crush for reading yet?
Hannah LaJoye (she/her) is a long time lover of books and an advocate for ocean protection. You can follow her on Instagram or YouTube to see content on books, her dog, dancing, sustainability, and more! Or you can head over to her Patreon, @hannahlajoye, to join “book club” and receive curated book content.