We must never underestimate the power of the individual to bring about change in the world. Your voice is important; but even more important are your actions.
1) Get informed! The U.S. book and newspaper industries combined require the harvest of 125 million trees each year and emit over 40 million metric tons of CO2 annually; equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of 7.3 million cars.
To understand the social and environmental impacts of the Book and Newspaper industry start by reviewing our FAQ page.
2) Write to your favorite publisher or newspaper to let them know you care about environmentally friendly publishing. Encourage them to establish an environmental policy and goals for transitioning to sustainable printing practices. Contact firstname.lastname@example.org for sample letters.
3) Hold a green books night, highlighting publications that demonstrate sustainable practices in production, printing and beyond. For a list of suggested publishers check out our industry leaders, or the Eco-Libris green books campaign.
4) Be an advocate – participate in the ALA’s Social Responsibility Roundtable Task Force on the Environment http://www.libr.org/srrt/taskforces.html.