Better World Books: The Book Store with a Cause

Better World Books was established in 2002 by a group of friends studying in the University of Notre Dame. They started selling textbooks through a web-based shop to earn additional money, which eventually led to the founding of a groundbreaking social enterprise – a venture that aims to promote literacy. The company sells new titles, funds book drives and collects old and used books through a wide network of nearly 2,500 schools and partnerships with more than 3,000 libraries across the globe. So far, Better World has transformed over 58 million books to almost $11 million in funding of education and literacy, and along with that, it has also diverted over 40,000 tons of books from the landfills.

Ever since its inception, Better World Books has been blazing a trail in online book-selling. It believes that education and easy access to books are basic rights of any human being, which is why all of the books it sells help fund several high-impact literacy programs in America and all over the world. Every book sold in Better World corresponds to a book donation to an individual in need, and all books are delivered for free wherever the customer or receiver may be. Furthermore, Better World Books also ensures that all of its operations do not contribute to the worsening of the planet’s environmental problems. Every order delivered from its headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia is carbon-balanced with Green-e Climate accredited offsets from a leading carbon-balancing, green power firm.

Every book purchased at Better World contributes to literacy, education and environmental protection all over the world, and provides opportunities for a better life. Needless to say, the company cannot do this without the help of its customers, which is why they always strive to do their best in offering the greatest selection, prices, services and overall shopping experience – and succeeds in doing so.

Indeed, Better World Books is not like any other traditional business with a supplementary “cause” constituent, but truly one that puts social responsibility and environmental stewardship at the very core of its operations.