The Environment
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers is committed to implementing sustainable practices into every facet of our company while finding new and innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. We already incorporate a variety of eco-friendly products, processes, and vendor partners into our business and across our stores. With more than 630 stores, even small changes can make a big difference, which is exactly the kind of impact we want to have when it comes to protecting the health of our planet.
Green empowerment
All of our Home Office employees and store managers are encouraged and empowered to identify how we can reduce our environmental impact. Each suggestion is reviewed and many are implemented company-wide. Below are just a few examples of ideas we’ve put into action:
Long before it was “fashionable,” we offered eco-friendly and energy-efficient products in our stores. Today, our campus communities have an ever-expanding array of “green” products to choose from including:
One of the most important recycled products we sell is the used textbook! Our unrelenting efforts to reach out to the campus community and build a robust supply of used textbooks not only saves students money but reduces waste and carbon emissions from production and transportation of new books. Every year, because of this commitment, we put millions of used textbooks into circulation on our college campuses.
Green practices
In our Home Office and our stores, we bring sustainability to work with us every day,
One of our greatest opportunities for reducing a store’s environmental impact emerges when we build or renovate. During this ground up process, we choose environmentally friendly materials that mitigate a store’s carbon footprint, including:
During renovations, when we need to dispose of existing bookstore materials we contract with companies that recycle carpeting materials, and we donate unneeded used furniture to local charities.
Our Global and Local Communities
Supporting diverse initiatives
Barnes & Noble is proud to support a diverse array of charitable and nonprofit organizations, including United Way, the Rainforest Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League, the Creative Coalition, and many others.
Putting our expertise to work with Teach For America
We recently teamed up with Teach For America, a national organization whose mission is to improve society through education by placing recent college graduates in under-resourced public schools. We help this organization promote its programs on the campuses we serve.
Helping kids in need with SHOPA
Every year, we donate school supplies to the Kids in Need Foundation. This charitable arm of the School Home Office Products Association (SHOPA) redistributes donated supplies, making them available free of charge to impoverished students and under-funded teachers at locations throughout the United States.
Building Homes for Louisiana Hurricane Victims with Project Home Again
In February 2008, Barnes & Noble Chairman Len Riggio and his wife Louise, committed $20 million to building homes for low-income families who lost their homes due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The Riggio’s nonprofit development arm, Project Home Again, will build hurricane-resistant single family homes, able to resist winds of up to 130 miles per hour, and elevated to at least six feet. They will also incorporate a number of green building materials and techniques.
"When Louise and I saw the massive destruction, the loss of life and property, we knew that we had to do something to help," said Len Riggio. "While government must handle the bulk of the rebuilding, individuals can also pitch in to help the good people of New Orleans get back home."
Ethical Business Policies
Upholding and promoting fair labor standards
As an equal opportunity employer, Barnes & Noble has adopted the code of conduct established by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) in 1998 to solidify our commitment to fair labor practices. We're also committed to working with suppliers that treat their employees fairly. All of our vendors are required to sign code of conduct and disclosure statements to verify that, when requested, they will fully disclose their own labor practices. Our vendors must also verify their commitment to following FLA codes and guidelines.
Our Culture
Cultivating a diverse, open-minded workplace
Barnes & Noble is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversebackgrounds and perspectives of all of our employees because we know ithelps create a richer, more rewarding work environment for us all.
Encouraging a fulfilling work environment
We're committed to helping our employees succeed both professionally and personally. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits program to help them maintain their health and well-being and plan for a satisfying retirement.
Developing our employees for leadership and growth
Our people are the lifeblood of our organization, and we offer a wide variety of learning opportunities to help them prosper and succeed. At Barnes & Noble, professional development is a deeply rooted and deeply held ideal—there is no surer way for us to grow, innovate, and help our college partners prosper.
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers is committed to implementing sustainable practices into every facet of our company while finding new and innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact. We already incorporate a variety of eco-friendly products, processes, and vendor partners into our business and across our stores. With more than 630 stores, even small changes can make a big difference, which is exactly the kind of impact we want to have when it comes to protecting the health of our planet.
Green empowerment
All of our Home Office employees and store managers are encouraged and empowered to identify how we can reduce our environmental impact. Each suggestion is reviewed and many are implemented company-wide. Below are just a few examples of ideas we’ve put into action:
- We give preference to suppliers that demonstrate the strongest commitment and execution to sustainable practices.
- We upgraded our fleet of company-leased vehicles to high-mileage and hybrid cars.
- We converted to LCD monitors, reducing our energy consumption by 30%.
Long before it was “fashionable,” we offered eco-friendly and energy-efficient products in our stores. Today, our campus communities have an ever-expanding array of “green” products to choose from including:
- Reusable travel mugs
- CFL light bulbs
- Recycled notebooks
- Clothing and merchandise manufactured in a sustainable manner from companies like, Sustainable Spirit and Above & Beyond
- Organic food and snacks
- Our café stores offer ceramic cups and plates rather than paper, for customers dining in. Paper napkins are comprised of 99% recycled material while coffee sleeves are biodegradable and made of 60% post-consumer fibers.
One of the most important recycled products we sell is the used textbook! Our unrelenting efforts to reach out to the campus community and build a robust supply of used textbooks not only saves students money but reduces waste and carbon emissions from production and transportation of new books. Every year, because of this commitment, we put millions of used textbooks into circulation on our college campuses.
Green practices
In our Home Office and our stores, we bring sustainability to work with us every day,
- We have aggressively pursued a waste reduction strategy that involves converting many of our store manuals, documents, and planners to an online format. This endeavor is already saving more than 500,000 sheets of paper annually.
- We purchase technology that is RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) certified,which means hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium have been reduced or eliminated.
- We partnered with QSGI to dispose of our older IT equipment in a secure, eco-friendly manner.
One of our greatest opportunities for reducing a store’s environmental impact emerges when we build or renovate. During this ground up process, we choose environmentally friendly materials that mitigate a store’s carbon footprint, including:
- Carpet. We use DuPont Antron with an EPP (environmentally preferred product) rating. The fiber contains at least 25% post-industry recycled content.
- Carpet adhesive. Mapei Ultra Bond Eco 220 has low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and is solvent free.
- Flooring. Toli Lightstone products are made from pre- and post-consumer recycled content. Tile from Mannington Brushworks is 85%recycled.
- Lighting. Phillips fluorescent T5 low-mercury lights provide a 30% reduction in energy usage.
During renovations, when we need to dispose of existing bookstore materials we contract with companies that recycle carpeting materials, and we donate unneeded used furniture to local charities.
Our Global and Local Communities
Supporting diverse initiatives
Barnes & Noble is proud to support a diverse array of charitable and nonprofit organizations, including United Way, the Rainforest Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League, the Creative Coalition, and many others.
Putting our expertise to work with Teach For America
We recently teamed up with Teach For America, a national organization whose mission is to improve society through education by placing recent college graduates in under-resourced public schools. We help this organization promote its programs on the campuses we serve.Helping kids in need with SHOPA
Every year, we donate school supplies to the Kids in Need Foundation. This charitable arm of the School Home Office Products Association (SHOPA) redistributes donated supplies, making them available free of charge to impoverished students and under-funded teachers at locations throughout the United States. Building Homes for Louisiana Hurricane Victims with Project Home Again
In February 2008, Barnes & Noble Chairman Len Riggio and his wife Louise, committed $20 million to building homes for low-income families who lost their homes due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The Riggio’s nonprofit development arm, Project Home Again, will build hurricane-resistant single family homes, able to resist winds of up to 130 miles per hour, and elevated to at least six feet. They will also incorporate a number of green building materials and techniques.
"When Louise and I saw the massive destruction, the loss of life and property, we knew that we had to do something to help," said Len Riggio. "While government must handle the bulk of the rebuilding, individuals can also pitch in to help the good people of New Orleans get back home."
Ethical Business Policies
Upholding and promoting fair labor standards
As an equal opportunity employer, Barnes & Noble has adopted the code of conduct established by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) in 1998 to solidify our commitment to fair labor practices. We're also committed to working with suppliers that treat their employees fairly. All of our vendors are required to sign code of conduct and disclosure statements to verify that, when requested, they will fully disclose their own labor practices. Our vendors must also verify their commitment to following FLA codes and guidelines.
Our Culture
Cultivating a diverse, open-minded workplace
Barnes & Noble is an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversebackgrounds and perspectives of all of our employees because we know ithelps create a richer, more rewarding work environment for us all.
Encouraging a fulfilling work environment
We're committed to helping our employees succeed both professionally and personally. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits program to help them maintain their health and well-being and plan for a satisfying retirement.
Developing our employees for leadership and growth
Our people are the lifeblood of our organization, and we offer a wide variety of learning opportunities to help them prosper and succeed. At Barnes & Noble, professional development is a deeply rooted and deeply held ideal—there is no surer way for us to grow, innovate, and help our college partners prosper.