EUDR: Looking Back, Looking Forward

This is a repost, originally from BISG.

Date posted: December 23, 2025

Posted By: Brian F. O'Leary in Committees

The week of December 15, governing bodies for the European Union voted multiple times to ratify a set of proposed changes to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a set of requirements first proposed more than three years earlier. The changes delayed implementation another year. The changes also remove printed books from reporting requirements, although other aspects of the paper and printing industries are still subject to the law.

The book industry reacted largely with a sense of relief. Although the regulations were adopted in 2023, with a mechanism to convey sourcing information for paper added to ONIX in mid-2024, many companies were not prepared to meet the requirements by the end of 2025. The collective reaction, akin to "Christmas comes early," included the regular refrain that book publishing is a unique industry that regulators struggle to understand.

Looking back, several things about the response to EUDR are encouraging for the book business. EDItEUR reviewed the law upon its release, found ways to modify ONIX to meet the law's requirements, and implemented those changes months ahead of the initial deadline, which was the end of 2024. When requirements were updated, EDItEUR again updated ONIX, providing publishers and metadata recipients with the tools needed to respond to the regulations.

This fall, when there was a push to "simplify" EUDR, EDItEUR was an early and vocal advocate for careful consideration of the impact on book publishing. A draft recommendation to eliminate the ability to nest due diligence statements (DDS) would have significantly impaired the ability of book publishers to report sourcing information.

With EDItEUR's help and direction, organizations like BookNet Canada, U.K.-based BIC, and BISG were able to work with their counterparts to amplify our concerns about the proposed changes. Lobbying by the European and International Booksellers Federation and the Federation of European Publishers was instrumental in getting the EU Parliament to exclude printed books from the revised regulations.

Outreach on EUDR fostered a stronger engagement with industry associations like the AAP, BMI, and AUPresses. Until the middle of 2024, EUDR was a "below-the-radar" issue, with supply-chain organizations aware of it and working to address its implications. As the initial deadline approached, that small circle had to expand, and other associations played an important role in spreading the word.

Although the book industry no longer needs to meet EUDR requirements, there may be some lessons we have yet to learn. The first is response time. The regulations imposed reporting burdens on paper mills, printers, publishers, and importers who might also be distributors in the E.U. Although there are exceptions, many companies operating across these segments were indifferent to the requirements even in the second half of 2024, when the initial implementation deadline was months away.

The second is the the need to focus on what can be controlled. After the deadline was moved back a year, too much of the industry's energy went toward arguing that the regulations should not apply to book publishing. While industry advocacy is a natural part of law-making, much of the discussion in 2025 focused on overturning the regulations, which at their heart make a case for understanding the sources and uses of materials in the industry. This time, advocacy worked. Had it not, the deadline would have arrived with much of the industry unprepared to meet the requirements.

As a marketing tool alone, clearly stating that "all fiber used in book publishing is sourced in a way that protects forests around the world" is a good thing. We need data to show that the book publishing supply chain operates in a way that protects and serves the planet. The industry may see the EUDR exception for books as necessary, but what are we doing as an industry to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability?

Answering this question may be the final lesson we have yet to learn. EDItEUR's executive director, Graham Bell, has made the argument that book publishing's market position depends in part of a network of exceptions. Copyright, reduced or zero tax status, exemptions from tariffs, and this most recent exemption from EUDR requirements are all examples. It's useful to look at these exceptions as ones that we don't control. They are given to us. At some point, they can also be taken back.

Every industry makes the argument that it is special in some way. Book publishing certainly has the right and duty to make the best arguments we can for protected status when it comes to the rules of the road. At the same time, market and consumer expectations for a demonstrated commitment to sustainability will likely grow in the years to come. With the concerns about EUDR now in the rearview mirror, what are we prepared to do to show that commitment?

Highlights from the GBA Convening at Frankfurt Book Fair 2025

This year at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Green Book Alliance gathered supply-chain partners from around the world for our second workshop focused on carbon accounting. The energy in the room made one thing clear: despite ongoing pressures across the industry, there is a strong, growing commitment to building the tools and shared knowledge needed to make meaningful progress on sustainability.

Participants exchanged insights, compared experiences, and discussed what they need next to advance carbon measurement. The conversations reflected an industry that is increasingly aligned on both the importance of carbon data and the opportunity to work together on practical solutions.

What We Heard

1. Sustainability Must Become a Strategic Priority

While day-to-day pressures are real, attendees emphasized that sustainability needs to be embedded in organizational planning. Many expressed a desire to integrate carbon considerations into routine decision-making not as an added burden, but as a pathway to efficiency.

2. Industry Wants Clear, Consistent Data

Across groups, there was enthusiasm for tools that create a common language around carbon footprints. Even with the variety of tools already in use, there was agreement that harmonization is both needed and achievable.

3. Benchmarking Will Unlock Action

Several groups pointed to benchmarking as a turning point: comparing year-over-year performance, aligning with peers, or tracking improvements from operational changes. Attendees were eager for tools that don’t just calculate carbon but help them understand it, contextualize it, and act on it.

4. Legislation and Market Signals Are Moving the Industry Forward

From EUDR to emerging product-passport concepts, regulatory changes continue to encourage investment in better data management. Participants noted that environmental information is being asked for increasingly and being prepared now positions organizations to respond smoothly and even use sustainability as a competitive advantage.

5. A Sense of Optimism About Collaboration

Despite different geographic contexts and organizational priorities, the workshop revealed strong alignment: carbon data is valuable, progress is accelerating, and collaboration is essential. Many attendees noted how much the industry’s sustainability maturity has grown in just a few years.

BISG Executive Director, Brian O'Leary talks to the group of participants at the GBA convening at Haus Au Dom, Frankfurt.

How the Discussion Supports the GBA Carbon Calculator

The themes from Frankfurt directly validate GBA’s Carbon Calculator Project, which aims to make available a free web-based tool designed to calculate the carbon footprint of a single book and make carbon measurement accessible for organizations of all sizes.

What the industry asked for

• Clear, consistent calculation methods

• Transparent and comparable results

• Easy-to-use tools for small teams

• Support and training

• A pathway toward benchmarking and future improvements

• Data that informs real decisions about paper, printing, and sourcing

What the GBA Carbon Calculator offers

GBA is transforming a trusted Canadian Excel-based model into a user-friendly global tool that provides:

• Consistent, transparent carbon footprint calculations

• Alignment with GHG Protocol principles

• Real-time book-level estimates to guide production choices

• Access for publishers, printers, and partners at no cost

• Training, onboarding, and implementation support

• A foundation for future expansions, including more print processes and organizational-level reporting

This tool directly addresses the needs raised in every breakout group: helping the industry move from intention to action.

Learn More About the Carbon Calculator

For questions or to get involved, reach out at info@greenbookalliance.org.

Terrier Books Brings Sustainability to the Shelves

At the Green Book Alliance, we believe that small, intentional actions can drive big change. When we received a message from Gladys Vallée, founder of Terrier Books, we knew her story was one we wanted to share.

Terrier Books is a new independent bookstore that opened its doors in December 2024 in Sooke, BC, on the unceded traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke First Nation. With a focus on environmental impact, circularity, and transparency, Terrier Books was built from the ground up with sustainability as a core principle.

Gladys describes the business simply:

“Terrier Books is an independent bookstore which sells books with an eco-conscious mindset. We carry books for all ages, and our goal is to provide people with affordable books that have a positive impact on the planet.”

Rethinking What a Bookstore Can Be

Terrier’s model is a practical take on sustainability.

They stock:

• Brand-new secondhand books

• Remaindered books (unsold publisher overstock with slight markings)

• A selection of new books printed in North America

  
  

All Terrier's products come from Canada. Gladys says they are careful in their distributor selection and get products based on their geographic location. They also inquire about the transportation and the environmental policies of the companies they work with.

Packaging and materials:

• Shipping boxes are made in North America and are Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

• Packaging is minimal and only used where necessary, and can be reused or recycled.

• Paper tape is used to ship orders.

• Paper bags offered in store are made in North America using 100% recycled paper.

• Their bookmarks are printed in British Columbia, on 100% recycled paper.

• In-store Gift Cards are made of seed paper, and can be planted after use.

• Gift wrapping is made from kraft paper previously used as paper fillings from book deliveries.

Shipping and returns:

• They use Shopify Planet to make shipping carbon-neutral by funding innovative companies that pull carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and store it. Right now, the money they give with each shipment goes to fund a mix of nature-based carbon removal and innovative solutions, such as direct air capture and mineralization & funds companies (more information here).

• Located in British Columbia, they ship orders only to Canada and the USA, to keep the shipping emissions as low as possible.

“We’re constantly learning and improving. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about staying committed and transparent,” Gladys says.

Changing the Way the Industry Works—One Practice at a Time

One of the most impactful choices Terrier Books has made is not returning unsold new books to publishers.

“If bookstores could order smaller quantities of a title, they could avoid having to return these unsold titles,” Gladys explains. “Returns are incredibly wasteful, not just for the planet, but for publishers and authors too.”

The Power of Conversation (and Education)

While the sustainability work behind Terrier Books might be invisible at first glance, customers are catching on.

"So far, I have had a lot of positive feedback from my initiative. But in my opinion, we don't have much of a choice. It needs to change. Other industries are already doing a lot more regarding sustainability and I feel like the book industry needs to catch up, especially in North America. We need to be more conscious about the impact that the book industry has on our planet and our environment."

That said, she noted that most customers aren't even aware of how the book industry works, or how and where books are made. She believes this stems from a general lack of transparency within the industry, where little information is shared with the public, or even with booksellers themselves. “I often have to ask a lot of questions to publishers, distributors, and companies just to understand how things are made and distributed,” she said, “and sometimes, I don’t get an answer at all.”

That’s part of what drives her: building a store that doesn’t just sell books, but helps educate readers about how the book industry impacts the environment.

“I’m definitely not an expert—I’m learning every day. But I always try to share what I know.”

Final Thoughts

Terrier's story is a reminder that sustainability in the book world starts with a few smart choices and the belief that this industry can do better.

We’re thrilled to spotlight Terrier Books as an example of real, grassroots leadership in the move toward a more sustainable publishing ecosystem.

Learn more about Terrier Books at terrierbooks.com

Want to share your sustainability story with the GBA community? We’re always looking to highlight projects from across the supply chain. Reach out to us anytime!