Communicating Your Company's Sustainability Efforts

In today's climate-conscious world, consumers are increasingly mindful of the environmental impact of the products they purchase, including books. As the book publishing industry works toward more sustainable practices, effectively communicating your company's efforts in the book supply chain is vital.

Here's how book publishing industry professionals can convey their sustainability practices to their audience:

Transparent Supply Chain: Start by ensuring transparency throughout your supply chain. Detail the steps taken to reduce carbon footprints, such as using recycled paper or eco-friendly printing methods. Highlight partnerships with sustainable paper suppliers and eco-conscious printing houses. Not sure how to talk about sustainability in the supply chain? Start with GBA's Publisher-Printer Sustainability Checklist.

Storytelling Through Content: Use your social media platforms to tell the story of your sustainability journey. Feature behind-the-scenes content showcasing efforts to minimize waste, recycle materials, or reduce energy consumption during the production process. Engage readers with narratives about sustainable initiatives taken by authors, illustrators, or contributors.

Engage Authors and Collaborators: Encourage authors, illustrators, and contributors to align with your sustainability goals. Collaborate with them to create content that emphasizes environmental consciousness. Showcase their eco-friendly initiatives or choices in book creation.

Certifications and Labels: Obtain and display recognized certifications, to assist in validating your company's sustainability efforts. Need assistance navigating this? See BIC’s Environmental Accreditation Badges and Standards Map.

Continuous Improvement: Emphasize your commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability practices. Communicate future goals and initiatives, showcasing a proactive approach to reducing the environmental footprint of book production.

By effectively communicating your company's sustainability efforts in the book publishing supply chain, you not only align with environmentally conscious consumers but also contribute positively to a more sustainable future for the industry. Transparent and engaging communication is key to fostering trust and loyalty among readers who prioritize eco-friendly choices.

Remember, sustainability is not just a practice—it's a journey and a story worth sharing.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

The Rise of Climate Quitting: When Values Clash in the Workplace

A perspective on why companies need to follow through with their climate promises and sustainability goals.

In a recent article by the BBC, they describe the concept of "climate quitting" and how it's making waves as an increasing number of workers take a stand against companies that don't align with their environmental principles.

We are seeing this larger trend in the workforce – a surge in 'climate quitters.' These individuals are leaving companies whose environmental policies conflict with their deeply held values. According to research conducted by Supercritical, a carbon removal marketplace, 35% of 2,000 UK office workers surveyed expressed willingness to quit their jobs due to insufficient climate action by their employers. Notably, this figure rose to 53% among Gen Z employees.

The article sheds light on a crucial aspect of the modern workplace – the growing emphasis on environmental values and how they influence career decisions. It underlines the importance of corporate responsibility in addressing climate change and the changing expectations of employees, particularly among younger generations.

To read more about the rise of climate quitters and the impact of environmental values in the workplace, check out the full BBC article here.

Photo by Philipp Deus on Unsplash

Eco-Publishing From Spain: Rethinking the Publishing Process From Conceptualization to Communication Using Environmentally-Friendly Criteria

The following two articles from Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona‘s digital magazine talk about eco-publishing in Spain. The first is about a physical cookbook and the changes that had to be made to the production process to make the product more ecologically sound. The second is about the environmental impact of digital publishing. Both articles contain some interesting facts and make enjoyable reading, with some embedded graphics.

Click here to learn about the physical book.

Click here to read about the digital book.

Photo by Soliman Cifuentes on Unsplash