The Sustainability Industry Forum (SIF) – the initiative uniting publishers, booksellers, authors and agents in reducing their environmental impacts – is looking back on achievements in its first two years and prioritising the next areas of progress.

The Forum was created in 2022 and brings together seven leading trade associations: the Association of Authors’ Agents, Booksellers Association, Book Industry Communication, Independent Publishers Guild, Publishers Association, Publishing Scotland and the Society of Authors. It meets quarterly at a senior level to provide an overview of projects, share research and best practice, and reduce the duplication of efforts.

Examples of collaboration have included the licensing of the Publishers Association’s Carbon Calculator to members of the Independent Publishers Guild and Publishing Scotland, as well as the sharing of information about the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which is placing new environmental obligations on the book supply chain.

Incremental improvements from the seven associations have included:

• At the Society of Authors, a series of member resources, the launch of a members’ Sustainability Network, and Tree to Me, an awareness-raising campaign helping authors engage with their publishers on sustainability
• Guidelines for best office sustainability practice and a member event on reducing industry emissions from the Association of Authors’ Agents
• Work on a carbon measurement tool, project-sharing at a Sustainable Bookselling Group and help via the Sustainable Grant Fund from the Booksellers Association
• A Sustainability and Environmental Data Reporting project, a Designed for Recycling project, a series of Sustainability 101 guides and a report reviewing offsetting options from Book Industry Communication
• The launch of the Sustainable Printing Report from the Independent Publishers Guild, plus new research into the scale of members’ returns
• Passing the milestone of 200 signatories to the Publishers Association’s Publishing Declares pledge, updating its sustainability tools and new research into digital publishing emissions. On 27 November, progress in sustainability was celebrated at the Publishing Declares Summit.
• A three-year Environmental Sustainability Plan from Publishing Scotland and environmental management accreditation for its BookSource distribution subsidiary

Areas of focus for the Forum in the coming months will include returns and practical advice to reduce waste. SIF members are now exploring cooperative strategies to reduce returns, including via Book Industry Communication’s guidelines for best practice in ordering.

Anna Ganley, Chief Executive of the Society of Authors said:

‘With 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions generated by the commercial activities of industries, it’s vital that our industry comes together to share information, collaborate on projects and explore solutions to reduce its impact on the environment. Being part of the Sustainability Industry Forum means that our strategies have a bigger impact, and we can take steps together towards achieving a more sustainable industry.’

Ludo Cinelli, agent and MD at Eve White Literary Agency and head of the Association of Authors’ Agents’ Sustainability Subcommittee said:

‘The climate crisis cannot be tackled without cooperation so, whatever their current carbon footprint, every organisation and individual in the publishing industry has an important part to play in reducing emissions and waste. The Sustainability Industry Forum creates a coordinated approach to dealing with this existential threat, and the Association of Authors’ Agents is proud to be a part of it.’

Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association said:

‘The BA is delighted to be working with our colleagues across the wider book industry on sustainability projects and initiatives. Not only does it give us a great overview and help avoid duplication, but it’s in equal measure inspiring and reassuring to know about the work going on across the associations.  We are also really pleased to have reconvened our own Sustainable Bookselling Group, which is working on a sustainability survey, an online conference for next year and discussing sustainability issues for booksellers with our members.’

Amanda Ridout, CEO and founder of Boldwood Books and co-founder of the Sustainability Industry Forum said:

‘With COP29 approaching it’s a good time for everyone in our industry to take stock of work on sustainability so far and redouble our commitment to change. Our trade associations should be proud of the important projects they have steered to make publishing and bookselling more sustainable. Approaches are now joined-up and strategic, but we know that much more work remains to be done on printing, distribution, returns and much more. The Sustainability Industry Forum will be a pivotal part of our efforts to ensure that publishers, booksellers, authors and agents accelerate the progress towards net-zero that is so urgently needed.’

Dan Conway, CEO of the Publishers Association said:

‘At the Publishers Association, we are proud of the efforts the industry and our members continue to make in the critical area of sustainability. Every day we are reminded of the devastating effects of climate change but see our members working hard to measure their impact, reduce emissions, collaborate with their extended supply chains and relevant stakeholders, and be more sustainable.

The publishing industry must harness the abundant enthusiasm and knowledge which exists within our sector to keep up momentum to achieve net zero as soon as possible or by 2050 at the latest. Publishers, booksellers, authors and agents have the full support of the Sustainability Industry Forum as this remains a top priority for the industry, and the world.’