As environmental concerns are at the forefront of our minds today, it’s important to be mindful of the choices we make, even in the seemingly simple act of reading. While physical books have long been a beloved source of knowledge and entertainment, it’s time to consider the sustainability benefits of embracing digital books – audiobooks and ebooks.
The Environmental Footprint of Physical Books
The production and distribution of physical books have a significant environmental impact. Papermaking is the single largest consumer of water used in industrial activities in developed countries. The papermaking process requires large amounts of trees, which can lead to deforestation and habitat loss. Experts estimate that book publishing accounts for the annual destruction of 340 million trees globally. Paper production, book printing and transportation of books from distribution centres to bookstores and libraries all contribute to significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Publishers also find themselves under tremendous pressure to get their books to ‘stand out from the crowd’, from bookstores, Instagram and TikTok, as books are increasingly being ‘judged by their covers’. Printers are under pressure to innovate finishes, including the application of foils, varnishes, sprays and plastics. Beyond the environmental cost of these unique inputs and increased emissions from the printing process, these finishes also further impact a book’s ability to be recycled, and increase the environmental risk of landfilling books at end of life. It is estimated that 320 million physical books are sent to landfill annually.
Digital Books: The Sustainable Alternative to Physical Books
Digital books offer a much more sustainable alternative. They require no physical materials, so there is no need to cut down trees or transport heavy objects. The only water consumed in production is by the (ever brilliant) audiobook narrators. Additionally, digital books can be accessed instantly, eliminating the need for printing and shipping.
Digital books eliminate the need to cut down trees, which helps to conserve forests and biodiversity. Digital books don’t require transportation from distribution centers to bookstores and libraries, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. At xigxag, based on recent external studies and our own internal analysis, we estimate that our x-books have 0.21% (nearly 1/500th!) of the carbon footprint of physical books.
Digital books don’t create physical waste, such as paper and packaging. And, at xigxag, our app works on your existing devices, which saves energy and avoids bespoke manufacturing and electronic waste.
xigxag: the Sustainable Digital Book Platform
At xigxag, we make the transition to digital books easy and convenient. Our x-book® experience offers customers the ability to enjoy the audiobook and ebook in one, without having to pay twice. xigxag customers can listen on the go, switch to reading at home, or read and listen to books at the same time. We make it so much easier to enjoy books, despite our busy lives.
Our x-book® also makes books more accessible to everyone, even the most reluctant readers. And our pricing model offers customers great value for money, without having to sign up to an inflexible monthly subscription.
We started xigxag because we were dissatisfied with mediocre digital book experiences, and we believed that exceptional digital experiences are required to encourage book lovers to make the move to sustainable, digital book consumption. So we built xigxag with the ambition to create the most exceptional digital book experience and make books more accessible, more engaging, easier to enjoy and more sustainable.
We’re proudly B CorpTM certified and an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks. We’re serious about tracking and minimising our environmental footprint, starting a difficult conversation within the publishing industry about the real change required to deliver on publishers’ net zero ambitions and supporting the publishing industry to improve accountability around sustainability. As part of the global B Corp Movement, we intend shape a future publishing ecosystem that’s better for the planet.The time has come to embrace digital books and embrace a more sustainable approach to reading.
By making the switch to xigxag, you can help to protect our environment, reduce your carbon footprint, and conserve resources. So, try xigxag and our x-book® today, and let your love of books contribute to a healthier planet. 💚
