From just two to three books per year, an e-reader is more environmentally friendly

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By Baaz Editorial

Thursday 19 March, 2026 - 05:20

By Baaz Editorial

Thursday 19 March, 2026 - 05:20 Read time 1 min 42 sec

Anyone switching from paper books to an e-reader quickly reduces their ecological footprint. This is evident fromresearchfrom the German consumer institute Stiftung Warentest. Reading digitally is already more advantageous from an environmental perspective starting at about two to three paperbacks per year. This threshold is significantly lower than many readers expect.

Lower environmental impact than paper

Over a usage period of five years, an e-reader, according to Stiftung Warentest, results in approximately 1.07 environmental damage points. This figure remains the same for both avid and casual readers, as the device is produced once and then used repeatedly.

Printed books score significantly higher. Paperbacks vary, depending on reading volume, between 2.30 and 8.74 damage points. Hardcover books can go up to 3.80 to 14.77 points. The analysis included eighteen impact categories, including climate change, fine particle emissions, water consumption, and raw material usage.

The difference in CO₂ emissions is also substantial. Anyone reading hardcovers for five years is responsible for about 64 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions in the production chain. For e-books on an e-reader, that is around 6 kilograms.

Lifetime crucial for environmental gain
A key factor in the outcome is the device's lifespan. The longer an e-reader lasts, the more favorable the overall environmental balance becomes.

E-reader manufacturer BOOX, B Corp certified, responds to this with devices specifically designed for long-term use, including through an open Android platform. Unlike closed ecosystems, which are often tied to a single bookstore or service, these systems allow the installation of various reading, library, and note-taking apps. This keeps a device usable when reading habits change or services disappear. This flexibility extends the lifespan and prevents premature replacement.

Broader use shortens ecological payback time

E-readers are also increasingly being used for more than just reading. BOOX devices, for example, also support note-taking, PDF annotation, and sketching. This allows them to replace paper documents, printed articles, and loose notepads. This aligns with a broader trend towards paperless work, where study, work, and reading converge on a single digital device. This multifunctional use increases daily usage and shortens the ecological payback time of production.

The range varies from compact models for mobile use to larger devices for study and professional document management, including color screens and A4 formats for intensive work with PDF files. Thus, e-readers serve not only as an alternative to printed books but also as a replacement for printed work documents.