The main book supply chain organizations in the U.S., U.K., and Canada have formed an International Green Book Supply Chain Alliance that will focus on information sharing, joint planning, environmental events, and other initiatives that aim to eliminate waste in the book supply chain and reduce its impact on the environment. The organizations are the Book Industry Study Group in the U.S., Book Industry Communication in the U.K., and BookNet Canada.
The International Green Book Supply Chain Alliance will work with members and national book communities in the three countries as well as with other international bodies that may be interested in contributing.
BISG executive director Brian O'Leary said, "We're interested in bringing together companies and people with diverse perspectives on the issues and opportunities in front of us. Amplifying the good work of others is a core strategy for BISG and this alliance."
BIC executive director Karina Urquhart emphasized that the alliance would work on internationally appropriate elements of greening the global supply chain that could be shared and adopted in a range of countries. "There will always be elements of local initiatives, and market-specific concerns that may not be appropriate for wider consideration or adoption," she said. "We'll shine a light on them, but the differences in our markets will be embraced and acknowledged."
BookNet Canada CEO Noah Genner added, "The book supply chain is the reason our respective organizations were formed. Addressing the environmental impact of that supply chain builds on both our interest and expertise."
Among areas for collaboration, the Alliance said, are:
- Collecting and sharing best practice information
- Publishing environmental news of relevance to the book industry
- Conducting environmental research
- Offering a central resource for environmental information and ideas
- Hosting global green book supply chain events
- Developing an annual Green Global Book Supply Chain award
- Testing the idea of a Global Green Book Supply Chain accreditation
- Developing a united green program of work