Digital Vs. Paper

Digital is more sustainable than paper...

Or so you thought.

For the last few years companies have been drastically changing their practices to use less paper. The reasoning behind the change is to be more sustainable and to save trees. Now, everything is digital. Books, bills, newspapers, even receipts are available online or emailed directly to you. There is a stigma against using paper, because it is bad for the environment.

However, is paper really as horrible as people make it out to be? 

Not necessarily. And now non-profit groups are out to prove it. The large claim against paper is that the manufacturing of it is leading to deforestation. While this may have been true in the past, a large portion of paper being sold is actually recycled, meaning fewer new trees are being cut down than planted.

• In 2011 66.8% of paper used was recycled. 
• Forest coverage from Minnesota to Maine has increased by 28% in the past century (US Department of Agriculture). 

It's easy to say that digital is more sustainable than paper because you can use it over and over again for new information, while paper updates are constantly reprinted. A few important things to keep in mind about digital media:

• Manufacturing any electronic products leaves a carbon footprint
• It takes a lot of energy to power electronics and this energy adds to our carbon footprint as well
• E-Waste is a serious issue and causes health hazards to humans, especially in developing countries

Which is better?

It is difficult to determine exactly which medium, digital or paper, is better for the environment. Because they are so different and because digital is so much newer than paper it will take years to accurately measure the two to compare them. 

Although there is no way to decide which type of publishing is better for the environment, it is certain that moving away from paper and going digital is more cost-effective for companies. For this reason, we will surely continue to see companies moving toward digital. 

Next time a company says they are going paperless to help the environment, remember that this is not necessarily the case. The company is probably just trying to maximize their profits.