Trade groups join forces for first time in industry-wide drive to tackle environmental impact

Six of the country’s leading trade associations for publishing and bookselling have agreed plans to reduce environmental impacts via a new Sustainability Industry Forum (SIF). 

The forum brings together the Association of Authors’ Agents, the Booksellers Association, Book Industry Communications, the Independent Publishers Guild, the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors to collaborate on projects to take practical steps to make the industry more sustainable, share best practice, reduce duplication of efforts and improve transparency and accountability.  

It is the first time such a forum has been convened across all associations. Those involved says this highlights the seriousness with which the industry is taking the climate challenge. 

Amanda Ridout, chair of the IPG and of SIF’s first meeting, said: “All our industry associations are individually sponsoring projects and activities to tackle the sustainability issue. This forum is an opportunity to ensure that there is no duplication of effort, that data and solutions are shared and that everyone is kept informed of progress. It is an important step forward to join up our efforts to tackle this huge challenge facing us all.”

The forum will be led by a central steering committee, formed of two representatives from each of the six bodies with a revolving chair from each, and will meet quarterly. 

At its first meeting, the SIF agreed its purpose, remit and targets. It’s overarching remit will be Publishing Declares, a series of pledges launched by the PA last year for companies to sign up to.

Its practical plans include the creation of four working groups focusing on the supply chain, including transportation and use of plastics, end-of-life treatment of books, including returns and disposal, paper and printing and book finishes and raw materials. 

The groups will build on previous sustainability research, including the IPG’s Book Journeys Project, which has measured the carbon footprint of various publishing formats and models, and is now collecting data on the end-of-life handling of books. The forum will provide regular updates on its progress and engage with other businesses and industry organisations as appropriate. 

Nicola Solomon, chief executive of the SoA, commented: "We are delighted that industry groups are coming together to work on achieving meaningful, measurable action on sustainability in the book sector. Climate change and the threats to biodiversity are the biggest issues faced by us all and while solutions may not be simple we must work together to drive urgent and substantial change."

Author Piers Torday, from the SoA Sustainability Working Group, also added: "In the fight against the climate crisis, it is time the values so many writers and illustrators express on the page were matched by the physical values of the page. From the tree in the ground to the book in your hand: we want publishing to clear up its act."

Karina Urquhart, executive director at BIC, commented: "As the UK book industry supply chain organisation, BIC naturally has efficiency and sustainability at the heart of everything it does. The scale and urgency of the environmental challenges we are all facing requires us to act quickly, together and without duplication of effort. The coming together of these associations to collaborate in this area is an incredibly positive step for the book industry.”