SoA launches campaign to help authors discuss their books’ sustainability with publishers

The Society of Authors (SoA) has launched a campaign to help authors talk to their publishers about the sustainability of their books.

Launched today (18th April) and featuring artwork by Jane Ray, the Tree to Me campaign aims to add authors’ voices to efforts to achieve net zero in the publishing industry by empowering them to ask 10 questions of their publishers.

Topics range from the materials used in book production and packaging to the sources of energy consumed, and from organisational investments and corporate governance to emissions targets and more.

Questions include: “Do you plan to use 100% recycled paper, or otherwise sustainably source the paper used for packaging, books (where possible) and across your operations? Have you stopped using plastic packaging?” and “Do you use foils and finishes or lamination? What proportion of these can be recycled? Do you offer more sustainable formats such as trimmed sizes?”

The SoA says the answers will “provide a clear snapshot of how sustainable a publisher’s practices are today and, most importantly, what plans and structures it is putting in place to improve that” and that the campaign “capitalises on authors’ unique position in the industry".

“They care passionately about their work and its potential environmental impact. They can help sustain a sense of urgency, holding publishers to account about the way their books are produced. And when an author knows that positive change is happening, they can be a publisher’s greatest advocates, using their platforms to share it with their readers,” it says.

Piers Torday, an author and chair of the SoA’s Sustainability Steering Committee, said: “I’m hugely proud to have published a sustainable book; it is possible. But for that to be the norm rather than the exception, authors need to be able to have clear and transparent conversations with publishers about their impact on the planet. Tree to Me equips them with the starting kit to do just that.”

SoA Sustainability Steering Committee member and author Sophie Galleymore Bird added: “As an independent author using print on demand, I had no control over the paper or finishes of my book. Once I became aware of the impact of virgin paper pulp on the climate and biodiversity crises I felt I had no choice but to withdraw the paperback from sale. I’m delighted to be part of the SoA’s Sustainability Steering Committee and Tree to Me and hope the changes authors ask for ensure a thriving publishing industry for generations to come.” More information can be found here.