Whats worse for the environment? computer or paper?

Question

i was just wondering what was worse for the environment...

if you have a document to read, is it better to print it out, therby using paper, cutting trees etc and needing a printer, or reading it on the screen and using electricity for the light up, and also the making of the computer...

Answer 1

I think it's better read off the screen and for this reason i loathe and despise PDFs, which are actually designed to be printed out.  Having said that, the monitor is controversial.  They're working on "electronic paper", which is basically dirt cheap non-luminous display material which doesn't need a permanent power supply, and i think that will probably be quite a good solution.

Answer 2

Well, as i dont believe that CO2 has an effect on the environment, and Global Warming is going to happen naturally, regardless of how much we do. I'd say paper is worse,

Answer 3

A fact that is true, and not many people think about is..

"Since we have started using computers/emails, we have used 46% more paper than before"

I cant understand why!

We have electronic copies of everything, so why do we print it all out aswell!

Answer 4

I think computers were designed for efficiency. However we print everything in multiple copies from drafts to final copies consuming more paper than ever, now if you print on 100% recycled content paper and print double sided at least you are doing your part.

Answer 5

nah better to use the NONE paper version..

no tree's to cut down

saves space

saves ink =)

e.g. people in offices printing 30 pages of jokes..

they went mental at an old job about that. I don't blame em really.

Answer 6

paper is better because you can buy it recycled and you can recycle it too. computers are big electricity wasters.

Answer 7

Well, what is the energy source? And is the paper from virgin pulp or recycled pulp? And how constantly is something needing to be read?

There are many factors in deciding what method is best for the environment, nothing is stricly black and white afterall.

As an environmentalist, and a fairly quick reader, I just use the computer and almost never print anything.

Answer 8

It is possible to go electronic and have very little paper production with your computer and for the most part we around here practice that.  But for the most part computers have increased the use of paper as it is so easy to print things out and there is greater access to information and creativity.  

So computers are the bad thing for the environment.

Answer 9

computer would be better. just imagine how many trees would be cut down every year if everyone just started writing everything down on paper. all these people that answered this question would have to write it down on a peice of paper and then use an envelope and then a stamp and so on and so on. the post office would have to start using paper instead of computers to organize all the mail. all other businesses would have to do the same and the world would be out of trees in a matter of like 5yrs.