Publishers try skinnier books to save money and emissions

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🗞️ Driving the news: Publishers are adopting skinnier, lighter books to cut costs and reduce carbon emissions
• By using thinner paper and more efficient typefaces, publishers like HarperCollins and Island Press are saving on printing and material expenses
• This could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of book production, which is largely due to forest loss, paper manufacturing, and transport

🔭 The context: The publishing industry is responding to rising paper and printing costs, partly driven by the pandemic and increased demand for cardboard
• Sustainable typesetting projects, like those by 2K/DENMARK, aim to shrink page counts without compromising readability by using fonts like Sustainable Serif, which reduce page use by up to 50%
• Early adopters like Island Press report both financial and environmental benefits

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Books have a substantial carbon footprint, with a typical paperback responsible for around 1 kg of CO2
• Cutting down the amount of paper used directly reduces deforestation and emissions, contributing to global sustainability efforts

⏭️ What's next: More publishers may adopt these design innovations, further trimming emissions and costs
• As sustainable typesetting gains traction, it could revolutionize the way books are produced

💬 One quote: “We need to make sustainability cheaper... We simply need to show that we don’t think it’s a compromise. We think it’s a better product,” says Andreas Stobberup of 2K/DENMARK

📈 One stat: In 2023, 767 million paperbacks sold in the U.S. emitted as much carbon as the electricity use of over 150,000 homes for a year

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