Environmental impact of printed books: a sustainable option?

There is currently an interesting controversy regarding the use of the e-book. It is about the eternal debate between the overcrowding of new technologies. in "sacrifice" of tradition, such as ancient habits and well-known rituals. I am referring to the staunch defense made by the followers of the printed book, as they argue that electronic books, or e-books, take away the pleasure of buying and reading physical books.

Whatever our opinion, it is important to be informed about the environmental impacts of each format. For example, WellHome published an infographic (in English) that provides valuable data, although it is from the US market, it gives us a clear view of the situation. Below we will delve into the ecological footprint of printed books and e-books globally.

Production of printed books

The production of printed books has a major impact on the environment. As the demand for physical books grows, the consumption of natural resources also increases considerably. Some of the most relevant data provided by this industry are the following:

• Paper consumption: La publishing industry consumes about 16 million tons of paper each year.
• Tree felling: This annual production of printed books requires the felling of approximately 32 million trees. This not only affects forest ecosystems, but also contributes to deforestation, a serious problem worldwide.
• Emissions from the manufacturing process: Each printed book generates about 8,85 pounds of CO2 (carbon dioxide), making printed books one of the products with the largest ecological footprint in the publishing industry.

Emissions of polluting substances in book production

The production of printed books not only generates carbon dioxide emissions, but also other substances that are of concern to the environment. Some of these pollutants come from the production of paper and other materials used:

• Industrial emissions: Paper mills emit substances such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. These pollutants are serious contributors to the climate change, as they intensify the greenhouse effect, contribute to the formation of fog, acid rain and aggravate respiratory diseases in humans.
• Paper bleaching: In order for books to have that characteristic white paper, chlorine is used in the bleaching process, which generates dioxins, known carcinogens that are also very persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the food chain.
• Use of raw materials and water: Compared to the ebooksPrinted books consume three times more raw materials and require seven times more water, an increasingly scarce resource in many parts of the world.

Environmental impact of e-books

In contrast to paper books, e-books are often considered a more sustainable option. However, they also have a significant environmental impact that must be considered. Below, we will discuss the different processes involved in their manufacture and use:

• Mineral extraction: The production of electronic devices such as e-readers involves the extraction of rare minerals such as cobalt and lithium. This process is often associated with habitat destruction, deforestation and conflicts in mining areas, as is the case with coltan in Africa.
• Energy consumption: Although e-books do not require paper, the energy used to manufacture the devices and to maintain the servers that store the digital files is considerable. It is estimated that around 45% of a device's environmental footprint comes from its manufacture, while the remaining 55% is attributed to usage. According to studies, the energy consumed by servers and cloud storage is significant, and continues to increase.
• Obsolescence: Although digital reading devices can hold thousands of titles, their lifespan is usually limited, approximately three years. After that time, many of these devices end up in landfills, contributing to the problem of electronic waste.

Comparison between the environmental impact of printed books and e-books

Comparisons between the environmental impacts of print books and e-books depend largely on how many books are read and the reuse practices adopted. Here are some key findings based on recent studies:

• CO2 production: Printing a hardcover book of about 300 pages generates around 1,2 kg of CO2. In turn, it is estimated that manufacturing an electronic reading device produces a carbon footprint of about 168 kg of CO2, which is equivalent to the production of more than 22 paper books.
• Impact compensation: For the impact of an e-book to be less than that of printed books, a minimum of 100 pages must be read. 33 books per year on a digital reading device.

Sustainability and eco-publishing trends

As awareness of sustainability increases, the publishing industry is adopting more environmentally responsible practices. eco-edition is emerging as an alternative to the current mass production of books. This approach focuses on minimising the environmental impact from the design of the book until it reaches the reader.

Some of the key principles of eco-publishing include:

• Use of recycled paper: More and more publishers are adopting the use of recycled paper for their titles. This reduces the need to cut down trees and decreases water and energy consumption in the manufacturing process.
• Print on Demand: Publishers are also beginning to opt for print-on-demand, a technique that minimizes returns of unsold books and avoids overproduction.
• Optimized transport: La carbon footprint The cost of transporting books can be reduced by opting for more efficient supply routes and local production, which reduces the distance that products must travel before reaching the final consumer.

Although eco-publishing is still in its early stages, it is clear that it represents an important step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the publishing industry. This collaborative effort between publishers, printers and readers can make a real difference to the environmental impact of paper publications.

The reuse of books through initiatives such as the Bookcrossing or the purchase of second-hand books also plays a key role. These practices allow a single book to be read by several people, distributing its environmental impact among more users and reducing the need for new printings.

The debate over which option is better for the environment, printed books or e-books, is still open. It all depends on reading habits and the sustainable choices we make along the way.