In partnership with the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and PubWest, publishing master’s program students at Portland State University conducted research projects to address distribution problems in the industry. Their findings investigate ways to make publishing carbon neutral, deliver books to readers more efficiently, address supply chain issues, implement POD as the preferred means of printing and decrease returns. Most notable was research on making the industry truly carbon neutral by 2050, which is a “lofty goal,” but meaningful steps can be made. Virgin paper takes 4.25 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per ton to produce, compared to 0.25 […]
