Measuring the carbon footprint of our book fair

Any event, be it a wedding ceremony or a company town hall, emits carbon and harms our environment. Our Ekushey Book Fair is no exception. Considering the large scale of this fair and the number of people it attracts, it is worth asking whether we should consider measuring this event's carbon footprint. Given the sacredness of this event, I think the time has come to reflect on this matter.

Printing books, consuming electricity, constructing pavilions and stalls, running food stalls, transporting visitors, and managing waste all contribute to significant carbon emissions. 

In Bangladesh, we have not started thinking about this issue in the context of overall production and business activities. As a result, we have little awareness of how much carbon we are collectively emitting.

Once the book fair concludes, Bangla Academy could take the lead in measuring its carbon footprint, setting a unique example. This initiative would add a new dimension to our journey toward sustainable development. By measuring the fair's carbon footprint, we could identify what further actions we need to take in this regard.

The first solution that comes to mind is the use of renewable energy. When the lights come on in the evening, they could be powered by solar energy. One might question the utility of solar panels for an event that happens only once a year. 

But in this case, solar panels could be rented or borrowed from government ministries, and once the fair is over, they could be used elsewhere. Some investment would be required, but it would be worth it. Ensuring that all stalls use energy-efficient LED bulbs would significantly reduce carbon emissions.

A large amount of plastic is used in stall construction, which turns into waste when the fair ends. We should consider waste management strategies for the entire event. Publishers could be given specific guidelines for managing waste. Food stalls could be prohibited from using plastic utensils. There are numerous methods to reduce waste, and attention should be given to ensuring that reusable materials are genuinely reused.

Running special bus services from different parts of the city during the fair could also help. This would reduce the crowd of private cars and CNG-driven auto-rickshaws near the venue. 

Alongside the physical book fair, a digital fair could also be organised, allowing people who only want to purchase books to do so online. Publishers could go a step further by producing ebooks and audiobooks for the titles they print. This would reduce the reliance on printed books, thereby lowering carbon emissions.

In many countries, organisers undertake tree-planting campaigns after large events. Imagine if the organisers, publishers, buyers, and visitors of the book fair all planted new trees in their capacity — it would positively impact our carbon footprint. During the February book fair, the entire nation's attention is focused on this event. This makes it an excellent time to raise awareness about carbon footprints. 

Businesses sponsoring the book fair should also be mindful of their own carbon footprint. A policy requiring sponsors to adopt carbon-conscious practices could significantly improve the event's overall carbon footprint.

We Bangladeshis are not into measuring our carbon footprint. We can start by organising our book fair and raising awareness throughout the nation.

Ekram Kabir is a storyteller. ekabir@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.