Going green, bookishly

If you collect books, you've probably noticed that they're made of paper, and that paper comes from trees. Raz Godelnik noticed -- he thinks green (not Irish, eco-ish) -- and he wanted to balance his books with new trees. So he started the website Eco-Libris; there, anyone can donate money to plant trees to offset book purchases.

It's not a direct replacement; the donations won't support new trees to be planted for pulp. Instead, Eco-Libris trees will be planted in Central America and Africa, in regions of deforestation, by one of three nonprofits: The Alliance for International Reforestation, Ripple Africa or Sustainable Harvest International. Of course, a donation to those nonprofits -- or any others involved in tree planting, like LA's Treepeople -- could be made by any booklover at any time.

But Eco-Libris makes the formula simple: for your X books, give to plant X trees. Easy.

It costs about a dollar per book (less, if you're talking hundreds). In return for your donation, you'll get a sticker that proclaims "one tree has been planted for this book."

And you might also breathe easier.

Carolyn Kellogg

photo by Bachmont via flickr

Comments

[Shay Rapaport]

I bought 100 stamps recently.
Hardly enough for my book purchasing frenzy, but hey, I do feel a lot more green!

[Environmental Blog]

I like that, it's for a very good Enviornmental Cause

Good JOB!!

- Environmental Blog

[thomas e]

Surely if you just buy a book normally, you can pretty much guarantee that growing the tree is carbon neutral... plus, to be honest, with the chemicals they use you are much better off going for recycled where possible.