Just One Thing: Green Your Reads

Sept. 15, 2009— -- Greening your fall book list picks is just one thing you can do to help the environment.

The Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit organization that works with publishers to reduce their environmental impact, reports that the U.S. book industry emits 12.4 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent greenhouse gases annually. That's 8.85 lbs for every book sold.

Plus, according to Green Press, the industry consumes 1.6 million metric tons of paper, which is the equivalent of approximately 30 million trees.

But it seems as though the bookmakers are improving. According to the Green Press Initiative, industry surveys indicate that they are increasing the amount of post-consumer recycled fiber in book paper, from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 13 percent in 2007.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible management of the world's forests. It has a certification system for companies, organizations and communities interested in responsible forestry.

So the next time you are buying a new book, look for signs on the back cover or inside copywrite page indicating it is made from recycled paper or contains FSC-certified paper.

Here are a few books on weather and climate that you can enjoy this fall: