Better World Books is an online bookstore certified by B corporation that operates as a social business and thus adheres to the triple bottom line. What it does is in its name: the enterprise tries to create a better world by selling books.
Based in the United States, Better World Books was founded in 2002 by students from the University of Notre Dame that began to sell textbooks over the Internet. Over the years, the business has contributed to the worldwide literacy and education movements by raising over $7 million for various libraries and nonprofit organizations. Some of those include their five main partners: Room to Read, Books for Africa, Invisible Children, WorldFund and the National Center for Family Literacy. Better World Books works locally, nationally and globally in order to make the most impact.
On its website, Better World Books has over 6 million titles to choose from, meaning that you can always find something to read. And what about the shipping process? Better World Books uses the Carbon Neutral Shopping Cart, a program that takes a few cents from each customer after a purchase, which goes straight to Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit that partners with businesses to offset carbon footprints. Better World Books’ social and environmental goals gives the business an edge against competitors, while also transforming the way that we traditionally think of profit.
Behind Better World Books is the belief that literacy and education is a key aspect of poverty alleviation. One book at time, we can all create positive change with the help of Better World Books.
Contact Information:
Better World Books Website
Retail Store
118 East Washington St.
Goshen, Indiana
46528
United States
Telephone: 574-534-1984
Outlet Store
55740 Currant Rd
Mishawaka, IN
46545
United States
Telephone: 574-968-9701
Socially-Conscious Online Bookstores
Better World Books Aims to Alleviate Poverty Through Literacy
Trend Themes
1. Socially-conscious E-commerce - Better World Books demonstrates the potential of a socially-conscious online business model, creating opportunities for other e-commerce companies to prioritize social and environmental impact alongside profit.
2. Triple Bottom Line - By adhering to the triple bottom line approach, Better World Books sets an example for businesses in various industries to consider the financial, social, and environmental aspects of their operations.
3. Collaborative Social Good Initiatives - The partnerships formed by Better World Books with libraries and nonprofit organizations highlight the potential for collaboration between businesses and social good initiatives to drive positive change.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - The success of Better World Books as a socially-conscious online bookstore showcases the potential for other e-commerce companies to integrate social and environmental impact into their business models.
2. Publishing - The rise of socially-conscious online bookstores like Better World Books presents an opportunity for the publishing industry to align their operations with sustainable and socially responsible practices.
3. Nonprofit Organizations - Better World Books' collaborations with nonprofit organizations demonstrate the potential for these organizations to partner with businesses to create sustainable funding streams and drive social impact.