This purchase supports Better World Books commitment to sustainable business practices.

MISHAWAKA, IN (Nov. 1 2016) — Better World Books, an online book retailer and founding B Corporation, with distribution centers in Mishawaka, IN, Reno, NV and Dunfermline, Scotland, announces its commitment to environmental stewardship through a purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets. This effort to reduce the environmental impact of its operations will not only allow Better World Books to lower their carbon footprint and protect the environment, but it will support the development of renewable energy technologies.  

“Better World Books focuses not simply on a profit-based bottom line, but rather on a triple bottom line that is social, environmental and economic. As a social-enterprise and founding B Corporation, we strive to benefit the world we live in through furthering literacy as well as protecting and preserving our environment. We have always made an effort to operate in a sustainable fashion – purchasing renewable energy is the perfect match of doing the right thing and managing our resources wisely,” says Nick Shoenfeld, Director of Operations and Chair of the Sustainability Council for Better World Books. 

Better World Books made this investment in renewable energy by purchasing 2,591,000 kWh of Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) from 3Degrees, Inc to match its electricity use. That’s an environmental impact equivalent to growing 47,191 trees for 10 years or not using 4,216 barrels of oil.* A REC represents the environmental benefits associated with one megawatt-hour of energy generated from renewable resources. The revenue from REC sales is a factor in making projects financially competitive with traditional energy producers.

Better World Books will also reduce the carbon footprint of transporting their products by 13,733 metric tons through their purchase of Green-e Climate certified carbon offsets from 3Degrees Group. That’s an environmental impact equivalent to growing 355,906 trees for 10 years or taking 2,901 cars off the road for one year.* Carbon offsets prevent or reduce carbon from entering the atmosphere, helping organizations balance out their unavoidable carbon emissions.

To learn more about Better World Books’ commitment to sustainability please visit http://www.BetterWorldBooks.com/Cares

About Better World Books

Better World Books (http://www.BetterWorldBooks.com) is a for-profit social enterprise and a global e-retailer providing products and information to socially conscious consumers. Better World Books collects and sells new and used books online matching each purchase with a donation, book for book, and with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives in the U.S. and around the world. Since its founding in 2003, the Mishawaka, Indiana-based company has raised more than $23 million for libraries and literacy, donated 20 million books; reused or recycled over 229 million books and achieved 54,000 tons of carbon offsets through carbon balanced shipping.

*Recommended source for calculations: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator