Introduction

In our digital day and age, we have harnessed our knowledge of technology to develop one of the most tech-savvy gadgets around – the e-book. Since the launch of the highly successful Amazon Kindle in 2007, e-books have been a contentious issue for many regarding which form of reading is the more environmentally friendly one. At the surface level, people are quick to jump on the e-book bandwagon as one easily concludes that reading books on a hand-held, electronic device would definitely be more “green” than reading a paperback copy of their favourite novel. At the same time, many people around the world are not ready to give up the tactile and olfactory experience of turning the pages of a physical copy of a book and inhaling the faint scent of fresh ink on the printed pages.

This blog therefore seeks to explore how green e-book readers actually are when they wield their nifty devices in the face of the rows and rows of books that line many of our bookshelves at home. The rising number of e-book sales such as the 14.4 million Amazon Kindle devices sold in 2012 alone signal the significance in exploring this area of Conservation Psychology, and illustrate the importance of looking at both sides of the coin to better guide our behaviour as we attempt to be more eco-friendly in a world faced with an onset of environmental issues at hand.

The scope of the blog will undertake a life-cycle assessment of both e-books and print books as Greg Kozak, an environmental consultant at First Environment in Chicago, did in his comparison of e-readers (devices that store e-books) and paper college textbooks for his master’s degree thesis. This framework will look at the positive and negative environmental impacts of both mediums of books through the materials that go into their manufacturing processes, transportation costs, their usage and lastly, their disposal.

One thought on “Introduction

  1. Great insight into E-Books! I haven’t owned one yet but after reading your articles I do feel more inclined to purchase an E-Book. Now the trouble is whether I should go for Nook or Kindle!

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