As an avid reader and environmentalist, I am fully aware that my books have been made possible by a processed forest. There may not be extensive information on the life cycle impact of a book but it does require plenty of resources! Trees are cut down to make pulp for the paper using water and energy in the process. Additional resources are required to print, bind, and ship the book to a store or my doorstep. On the other hand, to make an e-reader, materials need to be mined, shipped, and processed. The upside? Hundreds or thousands of books can be downloaded without a single tree cut down!
Although there is not much information about the total impact of these two options, one report suggests that someone would need to read 30-70 books over the lifetime of an e-reader to counteract its environmental impact. Depending on how much you read (and resist a yearly e-reader upgrade) this could be a great option for you! However, I still have not been able to successfully resist “real” books.
I grew up being able to pick out a book from the bookshelves in my house and get lost in new and amazing stories. I have so many memories of long sunlit days during summer break where I would spend hours reading the latest book. So it’s not a surprise that I have a bias towards “old fashioned” physical books. However, thinking about this as a paper book vs. e-book issue is very limited.
There are many ways to lower your environmental impact and still read real books!
Go to the Library
The number one way I like to read books is to check them out from the library. A printed book checked out from your local library can be shared with hundreds of other readers over its lifetime. This way, you get wide readership for the environmental cost of a single book. Most libraries also have services where you can check out and download e-books and audiobooks. I also love reading from the library because it is free and I get to try out a book and see if it should be in my permanent collection. Did I mention it is free?! You can go here to find a library near you!
Buy Used
Sometimes I love a book so much I want to add it to my collection. This usually happens when it is a book that I keep going back to for enjoyment (Harry Potter, anyone?) or for reference (Pojar & McKinnon’s Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast). The environmental option here is, of course, to buy used.
There are brick & mortar used bookstores, thrift stores, yard sales, and even many online stores where you can buy used books. One of my favorite online resources for used books is Better World Books. They also donate books and raise money for libraries (plus you can’t beat their free shipping!). Other online options include Barnes and Noble and Amazon which include used book options for almost every book they sell.
Share!
Whether you buy a new or used book, share the love! Swap with friends who all want to read the same thing or pass on a book when you no longer want it. I love borrowing books from friends because it’s like a library without the due date! Just don’t keep your friends’ books for too long! You can also check out an organization called Little Free Library which aims to build community through neighborhood book sharing – plus the libraries are irresistibly cute!
These tips can help you save resources and money without sacrificing the feeling of having a real book. I love that I have been able to build up a small library over the last few years of previously loved books that will be loved again and again!