Honest progress, not greenwashing
We won't claim perfect sustainability — publishing and shipping have hard tradeoffs. Here's what we're doing, what we've paused, and where we need your feedback.
Packaging changes
- Recycled mailers for most book shipments where durability allows
- Right-sized boxes — no small print in oversized cartons
- Paper tape replacing plastic where seal strength permits
Art prints still need rigid protection — safety beats minimal packaging when corners crease.
Sourcing
We prioritize:
- Publishers with stated FSC or recycled content when labeled
- Local makers we can relationship-manage on waste
- Durable objects over disposable trend items
Not every publisher prints eco info on every SKU — we ask distributors and note gaps.
In-store practices
- Receipts email-by-default
- Damaged books donated or remaindered, not trashed when possible
- Display fixtures reused across seasonal resets
What we haven't solved
- Cross-border shipping carbon
- Shrink wrap on some publisher shipments we can't control
- Balancing art print protection with plastic-free ideals
We're listening — not defensive.
How you can help
- Choose ** consolidated shipments** when checkout offers
- Recycle mailers curbside where accepted
- Tell us if packaging feels excessive — photos help buyers advocate upstream
Collectors note
Limited editions may use premium materials not marketed as recycled — we label when we know.
Sustainability is a direction, not a badge. We'd rather improve quarterly than announce once.
Share ideas at the counter — the staff clipboard has a "green ideas" corner for a reason.
Returns packaging
Reuse our mailers when you return — saves waste. Tape over old labels clearly.
Print-on-demand
Some art prints are POD — made when ordered, reducing dead stock. Slightly longer ship time, less waste.
Future goals
Compostable wrap for gifts, more rail shipping vs air where feasible — under research.
