Seeing the forest: Why publishers and readers need to take a fresh look at print and online publishing to create a sustainable information industry

Abstract

The emerging debate over whether print or online publishing is better for the environment is complicated by the fact that there is not yet a measurement system that publishers, readers, librarians and other interested parties can go by. Both mediums have their pros and cons. Paper is made from a renewable resource, but the supply chain involved in getting a book from printer to reader is extremely inefficient, both economically and in terms of climate impact. E-books and databases have a considerable environmental impact due to the way they are stored as well as the necessary electronics needed to access them, but professionals as well as the public often assume e-publications are better for the environment. The industry needs ways to quantify its ecological footprint before it can make informed decisions.