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From Wordcatcher.com: What is the environmental footprint of paper vs. electronic books…
In 2008, the US book and newspaper industries combined resulted in the harvesting of 125 million trees to produce books. Approximately 30% of these books were then sent back to the publisher unsold and pulped which adds to the carbon footprint of the publishing industry. It is clear that paper books can have a huge impact on the environment and the publishing industry is currently a massive contributor to deforestation.
However, paper copies of books, if treated well, can last for hundreds of years and be read numerous times which means that more people are able to read books without contributing to the destruction of the environment.
Are paper books better than ebooks? This is clearly a very complex issue and will largely depend on how each individual consumes books. For someone who reads a large number of books and takes good care of their electronic devices, an e-reader is a good environmental investment. If you don’t read that much or like to be able to lend books to friends and family then sticking with paper books might be the best option.
Read full post on Wordcatcher.com