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While researching on the hotly-debated issue of how environmentally friendly e-books really are, something that struck me is that an environmental analysis of this topic is a multi-faceted issue where a conclusive answer cannot entirely be derived from. Individuals might differ in whether they value water conservation over greenhouse gas emissions, for example, and the data surveyed for the different available studies is subjective.

As such, I believe that there is a need to engage both electronic and print book industries as we look towards the future. Our world is only going to get increasingly digitised as have already made transitions from the typewriter to the desktop PC and now, many gizmos and gadgets that come in all shapes and sizes, all boasting a host of exciting functions!

We cannot stand in the way of the digitisation of our society, but some of us, including myself, cannot entirely let go of the tactile experience of reading a print book. As such, perhaps the two industries could consider the following as we all strive to adopt more eco-friendly reading habits in our own capacities.