4 Reasons to Use Paper Over Digital Products

In the relentless march towards digitization, the mantra "go paperless, save the trees" has become a rallying cry for environmental consciousness.

Personally I love the portability and feel of a book in my hands while I sitting on the beach or deep in the woods sitting near a river.

I’m not alone. According to 2023 data from the literary industry research group WordsRated, when it comes to pulp and paper, print book publishing is the world's third-largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter, and 32 million trees are felled each year in the United States to make paper for books.

In terms of environmental impact, paper and pulp manufacturing not only requires the destruction of trees but the energy consumption is high. The high amounts of energy used in the process come from a variety of sources, one such being fossil fuels.

But beneath the sleek veneer of digital documents and online transactions lies a web of complexities and hidden costs.

Myth #1: Going Digital Automatically Saves Trees

Truth: While transitioning some processes online can reduce paper consumption, digital technology has its own environmental footprint. Data centers housing our information require colossal amounts of energy, often generated from fossil fuels. Accounting for the supply chain of electronic appliances may well disqualify digital as the ‘greener alternative’.

Manufacturing and disposing of electronic devices also consume resources and generate landfill waste. A 2019 study by the World Economic Forum estimated that global information and communication technology (ICT) generates 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions – a figure set to rise.

Cloud computing facilities and data centers need vast amounts of electricity to both power the hardware and the building operations. Between 2015 and 2019, the global digital sector increased energy consumption by approximately 6.2% per year, which is expected to double every 11 years. The International Energy Agency says current data center energy usage stands at around 460 terawatt hours in 2022 and could increase to between 620 and 1,050 TWh in 2026 — equivalent to the energy demands of Sweden or Germany, respectively. 

Are you using AI to write articles or do your research. Think twice. AI-powered chat bots like ChatGPT have amassed more than 180 million users since 2022. The process of training these AI models used 1,287 megawatt hours of electricity and generated 552 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Each query on ChatGPT produces 4.32 grams of CO2 — more than a Google search!

“Five minutes of scrolling on TikTok every day for a year is the equivalent to driving 12 miles every week. Since the average user spends 6 hours a week - that’s the equivalent of over 100 miles per week!”

Discarded digital hardware is a mounting problem. The WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) forum estimated that in 2022, 5.3 billion mobile phones would be thrown away while billions more were being hoarded or lying dormant and obsolete in drawers and lofts. They found that 45% of homes have between two and five electronic devices lying unused, with only a minority having any plans to recycle them.

For books, the average e-reader has a carbon footprint of around 80 pounds. This means that you have to read about 50-100 small paperback books-worth on it before you break even. This means if you get a Kindle, read a few books and put it away, it’s worse for the environment than keeping some lovely books on your bookshelf.

The paper industry is trying to keep up to reduce their environmental impact. Between 1990 and 2019, the paper industry reduced its carbon emissions by 48%, and it’s the biggest single user and producer of renewable energy in Europe, with 62% of its primary energy consumption coming from renewable sources. The paper, pulp and print sector is now among the lowest industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for 0.8% of European emissions. Meanwhile, 93% of the water used in the European paper industry is returned after being used and treated. Paper is also one of the most recycled types of waste.

Myth #2: Digital Documents are Inherently Safe and Accessible

Truth: Cyberattacks and data breaches threaten the security of digital information, potentially exposing sensitive documents and causing financial losses. Who missed the Crowdstrike outage of 2024?

Additionally, digital records can become inaccessible due to outdated software, hardware incompatibility, or even corporate closures. Paper documents, while vulnerable to physical damage, can be preserved through proper archival methods and offer an analog backup in case of digital failures.

Myth #3: Digital Access Promotes Inclusivity and Equity

Truth: The reality of unequal access to technology and internet connectivity paints a different picture.

Millions globally lack the resources or infrastructure to participate in the digital world, exacerbating existing socioeconomic inequalities. In fact, two-thirds of the world’s population uses the Internet, but 2.7 billion people remain offline. Global research shows that countries in the top tier of broadband adoption have a two percent higher GDP growth than countries in the bottom tier.

The shift towards a paperless society can further marginalize these communities, making access to vital information and services even more challenging.

“Digital equity refers to the state where every person and community has the necessary information technology resources to participate in society, democracy, and the economy fully. The term encompasses not only access to devices and the Internet, but also the ability to use and benefit from them effectively.” Internet Society Foundation

A lack of equity in official government processes due to the digital divide can mean that those with resources continue to get access to more and those without resources are left out. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) states that communities with lower access to broadband have a higher prevalence of disease, such as diabetes and obesity, when compared to the national average.

Digital equity means the digital divide no longer holds people back. According to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), digital equity is a “condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning and access to essential services.”

Myth #4: Digital Transactions are Always Eco-friendly

Truth: Online shopping, banking, and even streaming entertainment generate hidden environmental costs. Packaging and transportation associated with online purchases contribute to emissions and resource consumption. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin require vast amounts of energy to maintain, while online transactions still rely on energy-intensive server infrastructure.

Electronic payments can seriously damage the environment if they are not designed to minimize their ecological footprint. A single bitcoin produces emissions equivalent to 330,000 credit card transactions.

Currently, coal and other fossil fuels are a major source of electricity worldwide for cryptocurrency mining operations, and cryptocurrency mining generates a significant amount of electronic waste as its specialized hardware rapidly becomes obsolete. Over 77 kilotons of electronic waste are annually produced as a byproduct of Bitcoin mining.

“A single cryptocurrency transaction emits the same amount of carbon as an average household does in three weeks.”

To prevent servers from overheating, data centers support cooling processes with enormous amounts of water. An average Google data center uses approximately 1,703,435 liters of water every day.

Many cloud providers have pledged to reduce their environmental impact. For example, Google is already carbon neutral for its operations with aims of being carbon-free at all its data centres by 2030. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services aims to use 100% renewable energy across its operations by 2025 alongside its target of reaching net-zero carbon by 2040.

Alternatives for a Sustainable Future

Embracing a truly sustainable future requires moving beyond the paper vs. digital dichotomy and seeking nuanced solutions:

Reduce, reuse, and recycle paper responsibly

Implement conscious paper usage practices, prioritize reusable documents, and utilize responsible recycling channels. Paper is relatively easy to recycle and process, with more than two-thirds making its way into new products in the U.S. Though sadly, nearly 1 billion trees worth of paper is thrown away each year.

Invest in eco-conscious digital solutions

Support cloud providers committed to renewable energy and energy-efficient data centers. Choose devices with longer lifespans and responsible recycling options. Central banks and supervisory authorities have established the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a global association that advocates for more sustainable financial systems, which produces reports and studies and promotes the exchange of information on the topic.

Bridge the digital divide

Advocate for initiatives and infrastructure that provide equitable access to technology and internet connectivity for all. Projects working to provide women and girls access to education via laptops or other devices is one example. So is partnering with unemployed youth to gain access, training, and tools to enter the tech workforce. For governments, The Digital Equity Playbook helps city leaders determine causes of the digital divide in their communities, provides recommendations to address it, shares stories from local governments and suggests additional resources.

Prioritize mindful consumption

Critically evaluate online purchases and transactions, opting for experiences and locally sourced products when possible.

Video streaming causes 75 per cent of global data traffic, so be more choosy about your movies or read the book instead.

Be more efficient with emails and attachments and unsubscribe to all of the spam!

Find ways to recycle your electronic devices so they don’t spew toxins into the soil, air and water.

Digital detox and declutter your files and start deleting those excess backup files, like your ex-girlfriend from 10 years ago. Yes that trip to Bali was lit, but stop holding onto the past.

Embracing a sustainable future goes beyond simply replacing paper with digital solutions. It necessitates a critical assessment of technology's environmental and social implications, coupled with conscious efforts to reduce its footprint and ensure equitable access. By pursuing mindful consumption, supporting responsible technology, and bridging the digital divide, we can pave the way for a truly sustainable future where the paper vs. digital debate becomes irrelevant in the face of a holistic approach to environmental stewardship.