Nowadays, technology is an integral part of our daily lives. From our smartphones in our pocket to the gadgets around our home, we are rarely more than an arm’s length away from some electronic devices. For fans of reading, e-books provide a unique opportunity to store thousands of books in one small and lightweight product.
However, while their popularity soared immediately after their launch, in recent years, their popularity has begun to decline. In contrast, the sales of printed books have been on the rise, with 2021 seeing a decade-long high.
Although e-books are certainly a convenient and easy way to carry lots of books with you, they are unable to replicate the sensations of reading a real book. One common misconception readers make is that an e-book is better for the environment than paper books, as it requires fewer trees to be cut down; however, this is not the case.
Are e-books bad for the environment?
While an e-book prevents trees from being cut down, that does not mean that they are better for the environment. When it comes to working out whether a printed book or an e-book is better for the environment, there are several things that need to be considered.
The first thing to consider are the materials being used. On average, one e-book requires a staggering 33 pounds of materials to be produced. Many of these minerals are highly toxic, contributing to air pollution, while some are considered conflict minerals. Creating an e-book also requires large volumes of water, with nearly 80 gallons required for every reader being produced, and produces large volumes of waste destined for landfill.
Of course, it is not only the materials being used in e-book construction that are damaging to the environment. The actual manufacturing process is incredibly harmful. A single e-reader requires a staggering 100-kilowatt hours of fossil fuels, which results in over 65 pounds of carbon dioxide being released into the environment.
As mentioned, it also requires an array of toxic chemicals that further pollute the air around us, which can trigger asthma symptoms and chronic coughs.
This is an area where both e-books and printed books have an impact on the environment. As with most electronics, e-books are typically produced overseas. This means that they need to be shipped across the sea and then driven across the land, which requires vast amounts of fossil fuels.
Another important consideration is how e-books are used. While they can help to save trees being cut down thanks to storing thousands of books, research has shown that a user would need to read around 50 books on their reader in order to offset the pollution created during its production.
However, when you factor in the impact on human health and the ever-changing climate, which can increase to 100 books. Studies have also shown that if there are multiple e-books in the house, then carbon emissions are 750% higher than they would be had family members just borrowed books!
Reduce your impact and discover the joys of paper books
If you are looking to lower your impact on the environment and enjoy the feel and smell of paper books, then GoHardcover is the private book library for you. We are a unique app that helps you lend books with friends, swap your much-loved novels, and give away books that you are not planning on reading again.
With our help, you will not only discover an entire world of exciting new stories but also play your part in the circular economy. Want to find out more? Download our app today!