Authors:

Abstract

The emerging debate over whether print or online publishing is better for the environment is complicated by the fact that there is not yet a measurement system that publishers, readers, librarians and other interested parties can go by. Both mediums have their pros and cons. Paper is made from a renewable resource, but the supply chain involved in getting a book from printer to reader is extremely inefficient, both economically and in terms of climate impact. E‐books and databases have a considerable environmental impact due to the way they are stored as well as the necessary electronics needed to access them, but professionals as well as the public often assume e‐publications are better for the environment. The industry needs ways to quantify its ecological footprint before it can make informed decisions.

How to Cite: Christensen, K. and Siever, B., 2010. Seeing the forest: why publishers and readers need to take a fresh look at print and online publishing to create a sustainable information industry. Serials, 23(1), pp.20–24. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1629/2320