Textbook Reuse as a Circular Strategy for Reducing Paper-Linked Environmental Burdens in Education

Annual textbook replacement is an overlooked environmental issue within education systems. Using India as an illustrative case, this Perspective shows that the routine annual replacement of school textbooks for grades 1–8 is associated with substantial ecological and economic costs, including demand equivalent to approximately 8.3 million harvested trees, an annual CO₂ sequestration potential of 8.77 × 10⁴ tonnes, and a recurring expenditure of approximately USD 4.08 billion. Viewed through a circular economy lens, this practice reflects a linear take–make–discard model of educational resource use, whereas managed textbook circulation extends textbook life, reduces demand for virgin paper and supports more resource-efficient schooling without compromising access to learning materials. Wherever curricular content remains unchanged and textbooks remain physically usable, managed circulation should replace routine annual textbook replacement. Although the estimates presented are illustrative, they demonstrate the significant environmental and economic benefits that can be achieved through textbook reuse and support the integration of textbook circulation into education policy as a practical circular economy strategy.