Better World Books, Sustainable Development: Making A Difference

Sustainable Development Making a difference

Who Are Better World Books?
Used Bookseller
Social Environmental Economic Triple Bottom Line

Sustainable Development
“ The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations”- UK Govt.- “Securing the Future” 2005
What is Sustainable Development?
A way of tying together Environmental, Economic and Social aims to build a better future
An influence on decision and policy making within business and government
An acknowledgement of where to improve and a sustainable plan to achieve it

Sustainable Development
Environmental Dimensions
Four Criteria for Sustainable Development
Social Dimension
Management Dimensions
Economic Dimensions

Environmental Dimensions
STRENGTHS
Recycling- 237 tonnes of books, 14.9 tonnes of Cardboard
Locally sourced, recycled boxes
Partnership with EAUC
Biodegradable shipping bags
Waste recycling and responsible workforce
WEAKNESSES
Shipping- inbound and outbound carbon emissions
Site Energy Consumption
Could get more reuse out of books before recycling

Social Dimensions
STRENGTHS
Partnership with 3 charities- over £54,000 unrestricted funding to them. (NLT, READ, NALA)
Working with half the academic and one third public libraries in UK and Ireland- over £70,000 back to them
Donated 10,000 books to charity literacy projects
Local community connections
WEAKNESSES
Looking for more literacy partners and projects to help
More direct involvement with literacy projects and fundraising
Brooklyn Library- Great American Book Drive

Economic Dimensions
STRENGTHS
Over 160,000 books sold from UK
23 full time jobs created in 2 years
Jobs created for the long-term unemployed (currently 30%)
First full financial year turnover of £1.1 million
WEAKNESSES
Still in fledgling stage in UK but looking to be profitable within first 3 years.
UK sales website not yet active

Management Dimensions
STRENGTHS
Full consumer transparency (founding B-corporation and See What You Are Buying Into listed company)
Inductions in mission and values for Employees into the triple bottom line mindset (Invest Well, Waste Not; Lead the Movement; Speak through Action)
Regular visits/updates from our literacy partners
WEAKNESSES
Employee engagement with sustainable development
Encouragement to carry values outside of the workplace

Basic Principles
Audit- Before doing anything you must work out where you stand
Assess- Any idea for sustainability must be assessed both for its impact and how it affects the other dimensions
Act- An effective implementation plan is a necessity
Analyse Results- Must be analysed to see if there even was an improvement and what further improvement can be made
AAAAR!!!

Useful Links
Carbon Trust : www.carbontrust.co.uk
Envirowise SD training : http://envirowise.wrap.org.uk/
Sustainable Development in UK : http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/
EU Sustainable Development: http://www.sd-network.eu/
Calculate your footprint: http://carboncalculator.direct.gov.uk
IFLA and SD http://www.ifla.org/en/environmental-sustainability-and-libraries
B-corp : http://www.bcorporation.net/
SEE scheme: www.seewhatyouarebuyinginto.com
Queens Award : http://www.queensawardsmagazine.com/
Our charity partners: www.literacytrust.org.uk - www.nala.ie - www.readinternational.org.uk - www.eauc.org.uk
Better World Books: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/info.aspx?f=facts

General Contact Information
www.BetterWorldBooks.co.uk
[email_address]
Office: 01383 841 437
Yanna Constantinou
[email_address]
Gavin Hardy
[email_address]

Better World Books, Sustainable Development: Making A Difference

by Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC), CILIP in Scotland (CILIPS)

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