Climate change is already changing books too They are now thinner and have a special font
Climate change is transforming many industries, and one of them is book production. Due to pressure to lower emissions, books are becoming thinner and are using special fonts that save printing materials. The popularity of e-books, which have a lower long-term environmental impact, is also significantly increasing.
Climate change is not just a threat to nature, but its impact gradually extends to areas we wouldn’t expect – currently into the world of literature and books. In response to global environmental challenges, not only large industrial sectors are striving to reduce their carbon footprint, but book publishers are also looking for new ways to contribute to a more sustainable future. In this context, books are becoming not only carriers of stories but also proof of how technological and environmental pressure is changing their very form.
According to a recent BBC report, publishers are facing increasing pressure to produce their books more ecologically. This means saving paper, optimizing production, and using innovative technologies aimed at reducing the material demands of books, and thus their ecological footprint. Publishing houses are beginning to respond by thinning books, which at first glance may seem like a minimalist change but has significant implications for the entire industry.
One of the main trends that is already gaining popularity is the use of special fonts designed to save space on the page. For example, a font called “Ecofont” is created with small holes inside the letters, which reduces the amount of ink used in printing by up to 50% without compromising text readability. This innovative approach not only reduces the amount of material consumed but also helps save production costs, thus contributing to greater market availability of books.
Another important factor is the reducing of book dimensions. Publishers deliberately reduce the number of pages to use less paper. This saving is not merely an aesthetic matter – every tonne of paper saved means less energy consumed in its production, less water used, and lower amounts of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire book production process. This shift to thinner books does not necessarily mean limiting content, as technology allows for text optimization and compression without losing the quality of the reading experience.
An interesting change is the use of recycled paper, which is already commonly found in many books on the market. Recycled paper requires less water and energy to produce, reducing the overall environmental impact. Although its quality may still be somewhat lower than that of paper made from fresh raw materials, advancements in printing technology and paper treatment quickly offset this disadvantage. In some cases, the differences might be barely noticeable to readers.
The publishing sector is also increasingly concerned with the impacts of distribution. While books were previously transported to remote areas at high environmental costs, digitalization and the growth of electronic books alleviate this issue. E-books, although they also have their environmental burden (including energy consumption for reading and production of electronic devices), are considered a more efficient way to share content without needing to print millions of physical copies.
Climate change also forces authors themselves to think about the content they publish. Literature is increasingly addressing topics such as ecology, nature conservation, and sustainability, reflecting current global crises. Writers respond not only to readers’ need to tackle climate issues but also to their own inner sense of responsibility.
Books, as one of the traditional cultural artifacts, must therefore adapt to changing conditions. Although printed books remain popular among readers, the future of literature may lie in a combination of printed and digital formats, both playing crucial roles in combating the climate crisis.
