Which is better for the climate: Paper book or e-reader?

Some people opt for paperbacks because they are easy to borrow and share. Others will go for e-readers or audiobooks streamed on their phone. But which option is more ecological? The carbon footprint of reading isn't huge compared to other things people do, like travel, and most people don't consider it when choosing how to read a book. But for those looking to make small changes in their lives to reduce their impact on the climate, it might be useful to examine how the ways we choose to read books affect the planet.

A difficult question to answer

Whether it is better to read books in print or on a device is complicated by the complex interplay of resources involved throughout the life cycle of a published work: how books and devices are delivered, how much energy they use to run, whether they can be recycled.

Digital reading is on the rise – especially audiobooks. According to the Association of American Publishers, they now capture about the same share of the total US book market as e-books—about 15 %. However, print is still by far the most popular format. (Chloe Veltman, more at npr.org)