Did you know bookbinding is good for the environment? It is! When I tell people my books help (not hurt) the environment, I usually get some puzzled stares.

Their thinking probably goes something like this:

  • books are made from paper…
  • paper comes from trees…
  • many trees are cut down each year to manufacturing greed…
  • trees help us breathe
  • without trees, we’ll suffocate!
  • books are bad!

Look, I understand. The paper industry is the third largest polluter in the world, pushing 100 million kilograms into the atmosphere every year.

Knowing this, it would seem crazy that an item made almost exclusively from paper products could ever be “good” for the environment. But I have to tell you… that way of thinking is flawed.

7 Surprising Ways Bookbinding is Good for the Environment

  1. Pollution is nearly nonexistent when a book is made by hand in a home vs. a machine in a factory.
  2. Consumption and waste can be reduced because we purchase and use only what we need.
  3. Paper scraps and leftovers can be repurposed into mini books, book marks, boxes and other paper crafts.
  4. Unused or damaged papers can be recycled or used to make handmade paper.
  5. Like me, bookbinders can choose to purchase only 100% recycled paper.
  6. Long-lasting books are made with archival-quality ingredients, many of which are clean and free of chemicals.
  7. Handmade books are oftentimes created on demand, so there’s rarely any unwanted goods for landfills.

Books are Important

Look, no matter how many digital reading devices are available, books will always have a place in our world. Books teach us how to read, write and communicate. They allow us to be introspective by giving us a place to journal our hopes and fears.

Books are a physical representation of knowledge and free thought. By reading about the past, we’re able to avoid making the same mistakes twice. It may sound dramatic, but I believe books are the past, present and future of humanity.

There will always be a place in our world for books, so change needs to happen if both are to live in harmony. Profit drives corporations, so we have to vote with our wallet.

Make Intentional Choices

To truly help the environment, bookbinders and other paper crafters need to think and act with intention. By focusing on high quality, ethically-sourced and environmentally friendly ingredients while refusing to participate in the hype of consumerism, we can actually help our planet instead of harm it.

That’s a world I’m ready to leave behind for my grandkids. What about you?

Resources

 Feel free to ask me questions! I’m active daily on Instagram and in DMs.

All my best,

Misty