Leaf or Screen: What’s the Greener Choice for Readers?

Whether you’re a bookworm or a once-a-year reader, you’ve likely faced this choice. Maybe it came down to price, portability, or that cozy feel of flipping real pages. But next time, consider a different factor: the planet.

The world is gradually moving towards environmental awareness, and the rising concerns regarding carbon emissions and deforestation have led people to embrace e-books, considering them more environmentally friendly than traditional paper books. Paper books were mainly highlighted due to the use of tree cellulose for manufacturing paper, which was considerably responsible for deforestation and water consumption. The debate began with the rapid rise in e-waste and its improper discarding or recycling management, and yet it is difficult to decide whether e-books or paper books are the greener option.

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Let's compare the advantages and disadvantages of both.

The Advantages:

Paper books: No electricity consumption is required for paper books. Paper books are biodegradable and recyclable, and it is convenient to borrow them from friends and much easier to donate them, even if they are second- or third-hand; they can also be stored in a library for longer durations. On getting damaged, it can be easily repaired. 

E-books: While e-books don't require paper, there's no need to cut trees or waste water for e-books. Thousands of e-books could easily be restored on a single device. Also, e-books have a lower carbon footprint when shipped.

The Disadvantages:

Paper books: Paper is frequently recycled; it still has some limitations and can’t be recycled every time. The pulp production requires cellulose and a significant amount of water and energy, around 153 billion gallons. If not recycled, discarded books in landfills will emit methane. Also, printing a single book emits approximately 2.5 to 7.5 kg of carbon dioxide. Being bulky and heavy, the shipping cost of paper books needs to be considered.

E-books: E-books are stored on devices like Amazon Kindles, which are non-biodegradable and made of screens, plastics, non-renewable materials and heavy metals like lithium batteries, arsenic and lead, which are part of e-waste after the end of their life, which was 57.4 Mt in 2021, a rapidly increasing waste. It requires energy consumption. Data storage and downloading using numerous servers have significant carbon footprints; the manufacturing of devices emits 168 kg of carbon dioxide. Also, e-readers should be carefully recycled. If devices are not recycled properly or discarded in landfills directly, they will

Conclusion: 

There is no actual conclusion on which one is greener, the paper books or the e-books; both have their drawbacks and strengths. Paper books require virgin cellulose, leading to deforestation; once it reaches the last recycling stage, there are no new carbon emissions, and paper books are not considered hazardous waste like e-waste, but harmful chemicals are used for their production. While e-books are responsible for a big carbon footprint when they are read, searched or transferred, they are responsible for energy use and new carbon emissions. Paper books do not require charging, but devices like e-readers require charging. Also, both require water consumption: paper books, during manufacturing, and e-readers for manufacturing chips and semiconductors. Hence, depending on the reader's availability and proper recycling, it can be said that the mixed use of both whenever required can only be a balanced option. 

References

Cole, S. (2024, March 15). Are eBooks Eco-Friendly? 9 Environmental Pros & Cons. TheRoundup.org. Retrieved June 16, 2025, from https://theroundup.org/are-ebooks-eco-friendly/

King, N., & Muller, N. (2024, February 23). Paper book or e-reader: Which is better for the planet? – DW – 02/23/2024. DW. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.dw.com/en/paper-book-or-e-reader-which-is-better-for-the-planet/a-68314697