With Christmas on the way, books as gifts is usually a great option. However, with the increasing awareness of throwaway culture and its impact on the environment, this might be about to change.
Of course, there is nothing like the smell and the feel of a brand-new book – as a self-confessed bookworm, I know!
The Environmental Impact
Research estimates that each physical book produced in the UK caused approximately 3kg of CO₂. If producing an e-reader is the equivalent of 30 books’ worth of CO₂, you need to ask yourself: will you read that many books on your e-reader to offset its creation?
Aside from the air pollution, the chopping down of trees for paper is contributing to significant flooding due to the removal of natural flood defences.
Publishing company Penguin have pledged that 100% of their paper will be ethically sourced, but is this enough?
So, what about e-books?
See also: How To Get Out Of A Reading Slump
So, why go electronic?
In a world where going paperless will contribute to slowing down the destruction of the planet, surely forgoing the smell of a new book isn’t too much to ask?
Consider the benefits of an e-reader:
- After the initial charge, e-books are more often than not, cheaper than physical books. If you have a phone, you can download the Amazon Kindle app for free, meaning that you don’t even have to fork out for a specific e-reader.
- They are space-savers, often smaller and lighter than a paper book.
- You can access almost any book, anywhere and any time. No need to scour the shelves for that university textbook when one quick search will probably find you what you want. As an English graduate, this was definitely when I began to real A LOT more on my Kindle!
Alternatives?
Okay, not everyone will be a digital convert, so why not try books that aren’t brand new?
- Libraries: If you are lucky enough to still have a local library, this is such a great resource. It’s also somewhere where you can meet likeminded people.
- Second-hand: Whether it’s from a charity shop, or through an app such as Vinted or Ebay, second-hand books can often feel brand new, so you won’t always notice a difference. Although their creation has had an impact on the environment, by reading second-hand, you are preventing more from being created.
- Audiobooks: Similar to an e-book but doesn’t even require you to have your eyes open! Again, the majority of people already have a phone or computer, so listening to audiobooks isn’t going to take up any more energy than is already used.
Read next: Best Books To Get You In The Holiday Spirit