The Sustainability Project
Helping Australian libraries reduce landfill waste, support literacy programs, and achieve sustainability goals through responsible book redistribution.
Every weeded book is an opportunity for new life — in another reader's hands, not in landfill.
Creating a more sustainable future for libraries.
The Sustainability Project was created by Leaf and Spine to help libraries responsibly manage weeded materials while reducing environmental impact and supporting literacy initiatives across Australia.
Five simple steps from shelf to second life.
A streamlined process designed by librarians, for librarians — built to fit seamlessly into your existing workflows.
Create your weed list
Identify the books your organisation is removing from circulation through your standard weeding process.
Use your own boxes or bags
Re-use old boxes or bags as packaging — no new materials required, keeping the process low-waste from the start.
Pick and pack weeded books
Your team simply packs the weeded books into your re-used boxes or bags — no extra paperwork required.
Weekly, monthly or quarterly pickups
Choose a collection cadence that suits your operation. Every box is custom weighed on the day and the total pickup weight must be witnessed and signed off by a staff member at collection.
Spines removed, paper re-purposed
Books have their spines removed and the different paper types are taken to separate facilities for re-purposing — diverting every component from landfill.
Real numbers. Real environmental change.
Every shelf cleared with TSP is measured, tracked, and reported back — so your library can prove its sustainability progress.
Built for the sector. Loved by sustainability officers.
Support Sustainability Goals
Align your library with state, federal, and global environmental targets, including UN SDGs.
Reduce Landfill Waste
Divert thousands of kilograms of books and materials from ending up in landfill each year.
Redistribute Valuable Resources
Quality books reach schools, charities, and literacy programs that need them most.
Lower Weeding Costs
An efficient, transparent process that turns weeding from a logistical burden into a streamlined sustainability program.
Reclaim Valuable Staff Time
A simple pack-and-pickup workflow means less admin and more time for the work that matters.
Greater Transparency
Detailed reporting tracks every book's journey for full accountability and reporting.
Every book can make a difference.
Books removed from one shelf can transform another life. TSP partners with literacy initiatives — including the Indigenous Literacy Foundation — to put valuable resources directly into the hands of communities that need them.
Supporting literacy in remote First Nations communities across Australia.
Learn how to contributeAligned with global frameworks for change.
TSP directly contributes to seven of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — and connects libraries to global initiatives shaping the future of the sector.
Library Sustainability Initiatives
Aligns with ALIA, IFLA, and global library sustainability programs.
Green Library Programs
Helps qualify your library for green building and sustainability recognition.
Community Development
Strengthens local literacy ecosystems through targeted redistribution.
Libraries doing more — with less waste.
From overflowing storage to a streamlined process
A regional council network was struggling with weeded books occupying valuable space. After partnering with TSP, they cleared backlogs in three months while reducing disposal costs.
Turning weeding into measurable impact
A metro library service used TSP reporting to publish its first annual sustainability impact statement — supporting a successful Green Library Award submission.
A knowledge hub for the sector.
Curated resources to deepen your library's understanding of sustainability frameworks and best practices.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Explore the 17 global goals adopted by all UN member states to guide sustainability action by 2030.
IFLA Libraries Development & UN 2030 Agenda
Discover how libraries worldwide contribute to delivering the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
ALIA Sustainability Toolkit
The Australian Library and Information Association's resources for embedding sustainability across libraries.
Green Library Award
Learn about IFLA's award celebrating the best green library and sustainability initiatives in the sector.
Trusted by libraries across Australia.
"TSP transformed our weeding program from an environmental headache into a measurable sustainability win. The reporting alone has been invaluable for our council submissions."
Start your sustainability journey.
Speak with the team at Leaf and Spine to design a redistribution plan tailored to your library's collection and goals.