The Triple Bottom Line in Bookselling: A Standard for Ethical Retail

Books—especially used books—are commodity goods. They’re often discounted, bundled, and algorithmically recommended to serve the lowest price to the buyer. In this environment, the idea of ethical bookselling can feel quaint and at odds with the nature of a commodity. However, for independent bookstores, secondhand sellers, and social enterprises, there’s a powerful framework that redefines success: the Triple Bottom Line.

This blog explores how booksellers can apply the triple bottom line—People, Planet, and Profit—to build resilient, ethical, and impactful businesses. As a theory of business impact it is clear that one of the core principles of the triple bottom line is being ignored in bookselling today.

📘 What Is the Triple Bottom Line?

Coined in the 1990s, the concept of a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) expands the traditional business metric of profit to include social and environmental impact. Instead of asking “How much money did we make?”, TBL asks:

• How did we treat people?

• How did we affect the planet?

• Did we make enough to sustain our mission?

  
  

For booksellers—especially those in the secondhand and social enterprise space—this framework offers a way to align values with operations.

Looking at the bookselling landscape, businesses have become increasingly aware of the second point. Used books are baseline more sustainable than new ones, and operationally, many used sellers build upon this foundation to increase an already good thing. Importantly, however, there are very few examples of positive impact in the realm of people and social good.

💰 Profit: Rethinking Value in the Book Economy

Let’s start with the bottom line most businesses know best: profit. In bookselling, profit is often pursued through aggressive discounting, bulk sales, and loss-leader strategies. But these tactics can erode the perceived value of books—and the livelihoods of authors.

Instead, triple bottom line booksellers ask:

• Can we price fairly without undercutting authors?

• Can we build loyalty through mission, not markdowns?

• Can we create revenue streams that support long-term sustainability?

In a previous post, I went into depth about exactly this topic:👉 How to Compete with Loss-Leader Strategy

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People: Supporting Authors, Readers, and Retailers

Books are more than products—they’re cultural artifacts. The people behind them matter.

A triple bottom line approach considers:

• Authors: Are they recognized and compensated, even in resale?

• Readers: Do they have access to diverse, affordable, and meaningful books?

• Booksellers and staff: Are wages fair? Is the workplace inclusive?

This is where Author Support comes in—a concept Author Advantage is championing. It’s about creating a resale ecosystem that respects creators and consumers alike.

This is the item that used sellers most often miss when taking a triple bottom line approach. Arguably, the most important stakeholder when buying a used book is the author. Without the book, readers would have nothing to read and the seller would have nothing to sell. But despite being the most important stakeholder, authors are the most impotent. They are removed from the transaction. Profit is made off of their work by a business, and entertainment is gained from the reading of their works.

In a true triple bottom line approach, this must be rectified.

🌍 Planet: Sustainability Beyond the Buzzword

Used books are inherently sustainable. They reduce waste, extend product life, and support circular economy principles. But sustainability alone isn’t enough.

Triple bottom line booksellers go further:

• Minimizing packaging waste

• Using eco-friendly shipping

• Supporting local economies

• Educating customers on reuse and repair

👉 Why Sustainability Is Not a Differentiator in Used Book Sales

🏷️ B Corp and the Triple Bottom Line

If you’re wondering whether this is just theory, look to B Corp certification. B Corps are businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

While not all booksellers are B Corps, several are and the principles align perfectly with the triple bottom line approach.:

• People: Fair treatment of workers, customers, and communities

• Planet: Environmental stewardship

• Profit: Sustainable business models
  

For booksellers, B Corp offers a blueprint for ethical retail—one that goes beyond branding and into measurable impact.

🧭 Call to Action: Building the Future of Bookselling

The triple bottom line isn’t just a framework—it’s a movement. Booksellers who embrace it:

• Build trust with ethically-minded customers

• Create resilient businesses that aren’t dependent on discounts

• Contribute to a healthier literary ecosystem

Author Advantage is here to help. Whether you’re a bookstore, author, or reader, we believe in a future where books are valued, creators are respected, and sustainability is more than a slogan.

✍️ Final Thoughts

Bookselling is at a crossroads. The triple bottom line offers a way forward—one that honors the full value of books and the people behind them.

Let’s build a book economy that works for everyone.