Sustainability and Publishing: Why Used Books Matter

In an era where every industry is being asked to reckon with its environmental impact, publishing and re-commerce are no exception. From the carbon footprint of printing and shipping new books to the energy demands of digital reading devices, the way we consume literature carries real consequences. But amid this complexity, one solution stands out: used books. They offer a low-emission alternative that preserves the cultural value of reading while reducing waste.

Sustainability in publishing isn’t just about emissions—it’s also about supporting the authors who create the stories we love. By examining the environmental cost of new books, the nuanced trade-offs between digital and physical formats, and the powerful role of re-commerce, we’ll uncover why used books matter—and how readers can make choices that benefit both the planet and the people behind the pages.

1. The Hidden Environmental Cost of New Books

Every new book begins its life with a footprint—one that stretches far beyond the page. From the harvesting of raw materials to the energy-intensive processes of printing, binding, and global distribution, the environmental cost of publishing a single new book is surprisingly steep.

Producing a physical book requires paper, ink, adhesives, and packaging—all of which demand natural resources and generate emissions. Historically, the paper industry has driven significant deforestation and water consumption. Add to that the carbon emissions from transporting books across continents, and the impact multiplies.

According to a 2024 lifecycle analysis, the carbon footprint of a physical book ranges from 3.6 to 7.5 kg CO₂-equivalent per book, depending on production and distribution factors. In contrast, an e-reader has a much higher initial footprint—183.27 kg CO₂-equivalent—but its environmental impact decreases as more books are read on the device. This means that while physical books have a consistent footprint per unit, e-readers become more sustainable only when used extensively.

As readers, publishers, and authors reckon with the climate crisis, the question arises: how can we continue to share stories without compromising the planet? Used books offer one answer—but as we’ll explore in the next section, the equation isn’t as simple as physical versus digital. It’s about how we read, how often we read, and how long a book’s life can be extended.

2. Digital vs. Physical: A Complicated Equation

The debate between digital and physical books often centers on convenience, cost, and personal preference—but sustainability adds a layer of complexity that’s harder to quantify. While digital books eliminate the need for paper and shipping, they come with their own environmental baggage: device manufacturing, energy consumption, and electronic waste.

In our previous blog post, we explored how the sustainability of e-readers depends heavily on usage. The initial carbon footprint of an e-reader is high—183.27 kg CO₂-equivalent—but that impact diminishes with each additional book read.

This creates a break-even point: only after reading a substantial number of books does an e-reader become more environmentally efficient than buying new physical books. The threshold we calculated in our previous post was 25 books over a period of five years. This aligns with the breakpoint calculated in the 2024 study mentioned earlier.

But what happens when we introduce used books into the equation?

Used books disrupt the binary. They carry extremely little additional production emissions, require no new materials, and often travel shorter distances through local resale or donation networks. While resale logistics do generate some emissions, used book shipments typically avoid air freight—the most GHG-intensive transport method—making their impact minimal. For a simple calculation, it can be assumed that purchasing and reading a used book halves the emissions of that use of the book. This adjustment pushes the breakeven point for physical books versus e-readers closer to 50 books over five years. And if a book is resold more than once, the breakeven is pushed even further.

The sustainability of used books isn’t just about carbon—it’s also about longevity. A single book that passes through multiple readers over time becomes a low-impact cultural artifact. We must also look to the sustainability of writers in order to glean the whole picture. Every time a book is reread, an author gains exposure again and again. Fandom is built off of reading, and when a single copy impacts multiple lives, that creates a more sustainable literary ecosystem for creators.

As we continue to explore the environmental implications of publishing, it’s clear that the conversation isn’t digital versus physical—or new versus used. It’s about how we extend the life of every book—regardless of format.

3. Used Books as a Sustainability Powerhouse

In a publishing and reselling ecosystem grappling with environmental impact, used books offer one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and extend the life of a product with high embedded cost.

A standout statistic from the 2024 Momox Impact Report illustrates this impact clearly. According to page 20 of the report, used books achieve an 89% replacement rate—meaning that 89% of used book purchases directly replace what would have been a new book. This figure is a powerful indicator of how re-commerce directly offsets the demand for new production. It also suggests that used books are not simply a niche alternative, but a mainstream force in sustainable consumption.

Re-commerce in books contributes significantly to CO₂ reduction, water conservation, and waste avoidance. These savings are amplified when books are resold multiple times, creating a ripple effect of reduced impact across readers and regions.

But sustainability isn’t just about emissions—it’s about value retention. A used book retains its cultural and intellectual worth long after its first read. That’s why, among all media listed in the report, books have the highest replacement rate. Used books are part of a shared literary ecosystem, circulating knowledge and stories without generating new waste. In this way, used books embody the principles of a circular economy: reuse, reduce, and regenerate.

As we’ll explore in the next section, however, there’s one critical component that used books don’t replicate—supporting the authors who created them.

4. Supporting Authors in a Circular Economy

On initial viewing, we fundamentally agree with the fact that used books fulfill 89% of the purpose of a new book. That’s a powerful statistic—but it also reveals a meaningful gap. The remaining 11% is currently undefined in the report, but we propose it represents something essential: author support.

While used books reduce environmental impact, they don’t financially support the creators who wrote them. A new book purchase contributes directly to an author’s livelihood—whether through royalties, advances, or visibility in sales metrics. In contrast, a used book sale benefits the reseller, not the writer. This missing 11% is not just a technicality—it’s a reminder that sustainability must include the people behind the pages.

In a circular economy, we must consider not only the lifecycle of the product but also the sustainability of the creative labor that produced it. Authors are the foundation of the publishing ecosystem, and their ability to continue writing depends on fair compensation and recognition.

So how do we reconcile the environmental benefits of used books with the need to support authors?

One answer is ethical consumption. Readers can balance their habits by:

• Buying new from indie authors or small presses

• Using platforms that share royalties on resales

• Donating directly to authors or supporting them through subscriptions, events, or crowdfunding

• Sharing used books in ways that build community and visibility, such as book clubs or social media reviews
  

Used books are a sustainability powerhouse—but they’re not a complete replacement. That final 11% is a space for intentionality, where readers can choose to support the voices they value while still reducing their environmental footprint.