Press Release: 30.03.2022 - World of Books Group announces renewed focus on sustainability

World of Books Group announces renewed focus on sustainability in its latest impact report

● £100 million sales mark passed for the first time in 2020/21

● Wob sales of re-sold books equivalent to 26,000 tonnes of new paper - saving over 449,000 trees

● Carbon footprint reduced by over 50% over the past five years - with an aim to be carbon neutral this year

Circular economy pioneers World of Books Group (Wob) have reported an impressive year, today launching an Impact Report with strong successes across business aims in purpose and growth.

In 2002 World of Books was founded when a group of book-loving entrepreneurs rescued a bag of books from a charity shop bin destined for landfill and sold them secondhand. Now in its 20th year, Wob has grown into a leading B Corp and destination for used books which employs 720 people. Sales exceeded £100million for the first time in 2020/21, contributing to the equivalent of saving over 26,000 tonnes of new paper - which is over 449,000 trees.

Looking beyond sales, Wob’s continued commitment to reduce environmental impact saw 6,168 tonnes of carbon averted thanks to efforts made in 2021, reducing carbon footprint by over 50% across the group in the last five years, as Wob works towards the goal to be carbon neutral in 2022.

The organisation continued to work towards an ambitious pledge to donate one million books a year by 2025 and, despite the challenges of the last 12 months, have already donated over 200,000 in the UK and abroad. Plans are in place to significantly step this up in 2022 through partnerships including Books2Africa, Own Books and The Book Fairies.

Additionally, over £100,000 has been raised for good causes through a Virgin Money Giving partnership. And, via the Shopiago brand, World of Books Group is helping over 600 charities - including Marie Curie, British Heart Foundation, The British Red Cross and others - to easily generate revenue from donations for much needed causes.

Graham Bell, CEO of World of Books Group, commented: “We are extremely proud of the great work the team has done so far but we are equally excited about what the future holds. Looking forward, we are planning to become certified carbon neutral by the end of 2022, a net zero business by 2030 and we are committed to donating one million books to good causes.

More broadly, we are dedicated to our company mission to support charities and protect the planet whilst making a positive impact on the world, all whilst continuing to offer our customers and communities more and more reasons to re-love a preloved book.”

To see Wob’s impact report in full visit: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/impact-report-21

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

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About World of Books Group

• In 2002, World of Books Group was founded on an ethos to do good, protect the planet and support charities whilst making a positive impact on the world, all whilst continuing to offer our customers and communities more and more reasons to re-love a preloved book. More broadly, we are dedicated to our company mission to protect the planet and support charities. Today, we drive the circular economy through three re-commerce brands:
• Wob: Through Wob, we sell. We provide affordable, preloved books and media to customers all over the world. A book leaves our collection of over eight million titles and begins a new chapter every two seconds, enabling more goods to be reused.
• Ziffit: Through Ziffit, we buy. We give people around the world the opportunity to contribute to the circular economy, earn money and protect the planet, by trading their unwanted books and media.
• Shopiago: Through Shopiago, we help others. By sharing the technology that has grown World of Books Group into the business it is today, we’re helping charities increase revenue and reduce waste through re-commerce.