Can eBook Readers save our forests?

As an increasing number of people begin to think about environmental friendly methods that will assist in saving our forests, the eBook Reader is one that most will fail to consider.  However, as the number of books printed rises exponentially, the number of trees being harvested also rises which is a concern.

Most likely this trend will continue as people become more accustomed to the information age and the quick availability of the printed word on almost any topic they might be able to imagine.  It is only when we all dedicate ourselves to creating the paperless office that the continual destruction of our forests might diminish.

Although some might point towards the advent of ebooks and PDF files as offering a potential solution to the proliferation of paper books, it is a fact that many people tend to print these out in a format that uses more paper had they been professionally printed originally.

There is, however, a solution to this available in the form of the eBook reader. Such readers present eBooks in an easy to read format that is equally as portable as a physical book – in fact more so, since it is lighter and more easily carried, and as cutting edge technology continues to develop, the opportunity for becoming more environmentally conscious continues to present itself. According to Digital Book Readers, development of electronic paper technology, such as the electronic ink used in mobile reading devices, will take us closer to a greener future.

The amount of paper used for printing documents, books, magazines, and other such materials has not decreased with the proliferation of personal computers and laptops, but instead, seems to have increased.  It appears that as people have unlimited access to information, the number of documents being printed continues to be on the rise.  The necessity to transport printed materials from one location to another or to simply isolate specific documents is also increasing exponentially.

The introduction of eReaders can be instrumental in the saving of our forests if we as a people decide to utilize them in a fashion that can truly have the desired impact we seek. Listed below are some possibilities for using the eReader to assist in saving our forests:

• Replacing textbooks in Colleges and Universities:  The eBook Readers have the capability to replace textbooks in our colleges and universities, as well as reduce the number of books necessary in our libraries.
• Replace the number of books now being sold in bookstores both land based and internet based.  With the eReader, one can quickly locate the book of their choice, download it on the machine and immediately begin reading.  Most downloads take around 60 seconds for an average size book.
• Replace the number of magazines and trade publications now being sold and distributed.  Again, the eMagazine can easily be downloaded and accessed quickly and easily.
• Replace the number of printed reports and documents in corporate America and small businesses across the world.  Businesses, both large and small,  continually print budgets, marketing analysis and materials, training packages, etc. for distribution and review.  These machines could very well assist in diminishing the number of these types of printed materials drastically.

Not only do the eBook Readers serve the purpose of effectively eliminating the destruction of so many trees, but they also provide ease of use and simple transport capabilities.  They are light, compact, easy to use, and some of them will even read to us. 

Overall, these Readers have so many possibilities that it is almost impossible to predict what the future may hold for the expansion of their usage.  As we begin to grow more comfortable with using them, and as current purchasers provide feedback to manufacturers, their capabilities will only continue to expand and progress.

Web editor of the Bookseller, Philip Jones, is on record has having commented that publishers are currently converting their backlists to digital format in anticipation of the book world’s equivalent of the iPod.

So far, testimonials have overall been quite positive and reinforcing the need for such cutting edge technology.  Certainly there are those of us who still like to touch and feel the pages of a real book but we certainly don’t mind not having to carry all those books with us on our 5 hour flight.  And wouldn’t we much rather grab our Reader to take home to review the documents for tomorrow’s meeting rather than a heavy laptop or a briefcase stuffed full of papers?  In addition, the college student shouldn’t have a problem with reducing the load of that 25 to 30 pound backpack to a small 10 ounces. 

In short, the advantages by far outweigh the disadvantages.  It is probably safe to say that the eBook Reader is here to stay and will only get better and better as time progresses and more people are introduced to its virtues.  And remember, if you can help save our forests, wouldn’t it be worth it?