eBook. Simply put, electronic books are electronic adaptations of traditional paper books.
A
Bestsellers right down to lesser known books are available in eBook form and read either on computers, other electronic devices or e-book readers like the Kindle or
iPad. Though the initial investment for book readers runs upwards of $500, they’re being touted as the green option for reading in the twenty-first century. However, some say they’re simply not sustainable and while eBooks are eco-friendly, the readers are not.
Traditional printed books are bought in bulk by
bookstores; they tend to
overstock their books, increasing shipping returns and costs and
new trend in books, and in the world’s ever-growing digital revolution, is the
increasing the amount of books printed. If a book goes unsold, what happens to it (most likely it lands in the dumpster), asks Brad of
Bradsreader.com, and how much waste is there in correlation to unsold books? He reports that printed textbooks are responsible for four times more greenhouse emissions than e-readers are. However, it seems that no one is arguing the eco-friendliness of eBooks as paper savers; it’s the readers who are causing some uneasiness.
The iPad is certainly green, says
Supereco.comwriter Lisa Poisso, as it contains no harmful chemicals or PVC, but she asserts it’s not sustainable. Though it’s not solely meant for eBook reading (users watch movies and listen to music on it as well), one of its uses is for reading electronic books. It can’t be repurposed and it leaves its footprint
behind with manufacturing it, boxing it up, transporting it, and disposing of it in already jammed landfills.
The Kindle, according to Erika Engelhaupt in “Would You Like That Book in Paper or Plastic?” saves energy because instead of being backlit with LCD display it uses an electronic ink display. She also found that eBooks use less total energy in their lifespan than printed books do, they have less toxic impact than printed newspapers, and that
Amazon.comhas a recycling program for Kindle devices that is not only free but that sends the discarded readers to a licensed recycling service.
What is the answer? Which is better? Perhaps it’s LG’s solar powered e-reader, which functions using renewable, solar power. Instead of powering from the grid like the Kindle does, the LG solar powered eBook requires only 4.5 hours of sunlight to power for an entire day. Perhaps the answer is to reuse and recycle by making use of local libraries, book exchanges and second-hand books. Perhaps for now, we have to take the bad with the good and continue to protest and to search for a sustainable eco-friendly eBook reader which eco-conscious folks can use with a guilt-free conscience.
Read more about the environmental impact of eBooks at:
www.ecolibris.net/ebooks.asp
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