Lore and Threads against book waste

That statistic is crazy right? But unread books from publishers are not the only issue. In Australia 4.5 million books are sent to landfill by libraries each year (Book Pickups, n.d.). Just like us I bet you're thinking – they are paper why aren’t they recycled? Unfortunately, due to the plastics and glues that make up our beloved paperbacks they can’t be recycled traditionally (Cyberendsen, 2023). The dark side of our favourite past time is that many stories go unread or that once loved novel that got you through a tough time becomes waste, damaging our planet. 

What can we do? At Lore and Threads our future goal is to find ways to give books a second life — transforming pages that might otherwise be discarded into something new. Eventually we hope to use books that are destined for landfill and turn them into aesthetic and functional packaging for our products. In the form of: 

• Shredded pages to protect our products during shipping
• Wrapping paper (for gifts)
• Hardbacks as backing inserts
• Dust jackets as envelopes for our invoices and thank you cards

This isn’t something we’re doing just yet. As a small business, we’re taking our time to grow responsibly and ensure any future initiatives are handled with care and respect. But it’s a direction we’re deeply drawn to — one that aligns with our love of stories and our belief that nothing meaningful should be wasted. 

If your wondering what you can do: 

Pass books on thoughtfully
If you’ve finished a book you won’t reread, consider gifting it to a friend, leaving it in a community book swap, or donating it to a local charity or op shop. Many stories still have plenty of chapters left in them.

Be intentional with purchases
Pausing before buying and ask yourself whether a book will be read, loved, or revisited. A smaller, well-loved collection is often more meaningful than shelves filled in haste. Choosing independent bookstores that prioritise sustainable practices helps reduce the demand for overproduction.

Reuse and reimagine where possible
Books that are damaged or beyond donating can still have value. Pages can be repurposed for art, journaling, wrapping, or craft projects, allowing the story to live on in a new way.

Talk about it
Simply being aware and sharing that awareness matters. Conversations around book waste help shift how we think about consumption and care.

We want to be clear this isn’t about stopping people from buying books. Books are at the very heart of Lore and Threads. They’re the reason we exist in the first place. Stories inspire our designs, shape our rituals, and bring comfort into everyday life.

What matters to us isn’t less reading - it’s more intention. Buying books to be loved, reread, shared, and kept. Being mindful of what happens to stories once they’ve been read, and finding gentler ways to let them live on.