Overview

• E-reader manufacturing and transport generate about six kilograms of CO₂ over five years, compared with roughly 64 kilograms produced by printing 60 hardcover books.
• Reading e-books on an already owned tablet accumulates just 0.14 environmental damage points over five years for heavy readers, making it the most sustainable option.
• Switching to an e-reader pays off environmentally for anyone who reads as few as two to three books per year.
• Paperback editions cause about half the environmental damage of hardcover books but still exceed the impact of digital formats.
• Charging an e-reader has a negligible footprint, adding just 0.003 damage points for electricity use by a heavy reader over five years.