Is OurShelves ethical?

Overview

OurShelves is a specialized subscription service dedicated to diversifying children’s home libraries. Founded on the principle that all children deserve to see themselves reflected in literature (mirrors) and to learn about those different from them (windows), the company curates high-quality picture books featuring underrepresented characters and themes. This includes LGBTQ+ families, characters of color, disabled protagonists, and feminist narratives. Beyond simple curation, OurShelves operates as a social enterprise, using its collective purchasing power to advocate for the publication of more inclusive stories, thereby addressing the systemic lack of representation in the traditional publishing landscape.

Certifications

OurShelves maintains a rigorous commitment to corporate responsibility, evidenced by its status as a Certified B Corp. This certification ensures the company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Additionally, the brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate one percent of its annual sales to environmental causes. Its commitment to physical product sustainability is further bolstered by the use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified materials in its packaging and selection processes, ensuring that the paper products used are sourced from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Animal testing & vegan range

As a book subscription service, OurShelves does not manufacture products that require animal testing. The company focuses on physical and digital media. While the books themselves are typically made from paper and ink, the brand’s commitment to ethical sourcing extends to the physical components of the books they curate. They prioritize publishers who utilize non-toxic, pet and family-safe materials. While not a manufacturer of "vegan" goods in the traditional sense, the brand's curation often includes themes of animal rights, environmental stewardship, and plant-forward living, aligning with a vegan-friendly lifestyle.

Sustainability pledges

OurShelves approaches sustainability through both philanthropic and operational lenses. Through its 1% for the Planet membership, the company directly funds environmental conservation efforts. Operationally, the brand focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of its logistics chain. This includes using recycled and recyclable shipping materials and optimizing shipping routes to minimize emissions. By selecting FSC Certified products, they ensure that their core product—books—is part of a circular economy that prevents deforestation. They have publicly committed to ongoing improvements in their supply chain to reach net-zero goals in the coming decade.

Sourcing & labor

The company’s sourcing strategy is intrinsically linked to its social justice mission. OurShelves vets publishers not only for the content of their books but also for their internal labor practices and commitment to diversity. They prioritize independent publishers and creators from marginalized backgrounds, ensuring that capital is directed back into communities that have historically been excluded from the publishing industry. As a B Corp, OurShelves is required to maintain fair labor practices within its own small team, ensuring living wages and inclusive hiring practices that reflect the diverse world they promote in their book selections.

Controversies context

At the time of this report, there are no major controversies, legal disputes, or significant ethical breaches on record for OurShelves. The company maintains a high level of transparency regarding its selection process and its advocacy work. While the nature of "social justice" content can occasionally lead to localized censorship challenges (such as book bans in specific school districts), OurShelves remains steadfast in its mission, often using such instances to further educate its audience on the importance of intellectual freedom and the right to representation in literature.

Bottom line

With an ethical score ranging between 92 and 94 out of 100, OurShelves stands as a leader in the ethical subscription market. It represents a rare alignment of high environmental standards (FSC, 1% for the Planet) and deep social impact (B Corp, Social Justice curation). Consumers looking to support a business that actively works to dismantle systemic bias in media while maintaining a light environmental footprint will find OurShelves to be an exemplary choice. Their model proves that curation can be a powerful tool for both cultural and ecological change.