Paper or Pixel? What’s the Most Sustainable Way to Read
Are physical books or e-readers better for the planet? Let’s break down the facts, feelings, and footprint of your reading habit.
I just saw more books in one place than I’ve seen in my entire life.
My husband and I recently hit up this wild monthly Book Warehouse event in Easley, South Carolina — and folks, when they say “warehouse,” they’re not being cute. Picture a Lowe’s or Home Depot. Now replace every paint can and lumber rack with towering rows of books. We’re talking thrillers, cookbooks, memoirs, kids’ books, gardening guides, romance, religion — it was like walking into the brain of a caffeinated librarian.
And the kicker? Every single book was 70% off retail. Brand new. Never read. Straight from publishers or distributors.
We walked out with a lot of books. And on the drive home, a weird mix of joy and guilt started bubbling up. See, I usually borrow books digitally from the library on my Kindle Scribe. I try to keep things low-waste, low-impact, and I’ve made a point to avoid shopping with Amazon when I can. So here I was with an Amazon-made device in my bag and a trunk full of physical books I hadn’t planned to buy. Cue the sustainability shame spiral.
But then I started digging into where those warehouse books actually come from. And folks, my guilt took a backseat to some seriously good news.
Turns out, events like this are a behind-the-scenes book rescue mission. Leftover inventory, overstocked titles, or books with slightly scuffed covers get scooped up in bulk and sold at a deep discount rather than being pulped or — yep — landfilled. That means these sales don’t just benefit your book budget; they also help keep perfectly good books in circulation. A win for readers and the planet.
Which brings me to the bigger question that’s been knocking around in my head lately: What’s the most sustainable way to read — paper or pixel?
Let’s flip the page on that.
Physical Books: The Pros and Cons
Pros:
No power required to read
Biodegradable (if not plastic-coated)
Easily shared, donated, or resold
Libraries = ultimate low-impact option
Can last for decades if loved well
Cons:
Made from virgin trees more often than not
Energy + chemicals go into paper production
Shipping + warehousing = major carbon footprint
Not always recyclable
Book hoarding is real (guilty as charged)
E-Readers: The Pros and Cons
Pros:
Can replace hundreds, if not thousands, of physical books
Travel-friendly and lightweight
No shipping or printing for digital titles
Ideal for low-light or on-the-go reading
Research tools baked in (highlighting, dictionary, etc.)
Many e-books are available at most local libraries to borrow at no cost; some libraries even have e-readers you can borrow
Cons:
Manufacturing = high upfront footprint
Built with rare earth metals
Not easily recycled
Needs charging + software updates
Often made under questionable labor conditions
Many digital titles come from massive retailers and not from local bookshops, so if you are hesitant to buy from Amazon (hi, that’s me), it may be more difficult to find digital books
Hot stat: Most studies agree you need to read 25–40 books on your e-reader before it becomes “greener” than print. (So, if you only read 1–2 books a year? Stick to the library or secondhand.)
Where Do Warehouse Books Fit In?
Here’s where things get interesting. Massive warehouse sales like the one we hit often buy surplus or remaindered books that were never going to make it to big-box shelves or indie bookstores.
Some of these are overprinted runs. Others are returns from retailers or just the casualties of shifting trends. Without a second chance at sale, many would be shredded, recycled inefficiently, or — in the worst cases — sent to a landfill.
So when you buy from a warehouse event, you’re not just scoring deals. You’re helping give a book a home before it ends up as waste.
So… What’s the Smartest Reading Habit?
In terms of sustainability, it’s not about picking a side. It’s about reading with intention.
Here’s the cheat sheet:
Best Overall:
Borrow from Your Library
Physical or digital — both work
Shared books = less printing, less waste
No clutter guilt
Use apps like Libby or Hoopla to rent books from your library for free (you do need a library card)
Best Low-Waste:
Buy Used or Remaindered Books
Save books from the shredder
Support secondhand sellers or pop-up events
Donate or swap when you’re done
Best Digital Habit:
Make Your E-Reader Last
Don’t upgrade unless you have to
Recharge using clean energy when you can
Use it for books you’ll reread or reference
Bonus: Borrow ebooks from the library = double win
Field Tip: Read With Purpose, Not Pressure
Hit up Little Free Libraries
Set up a friend book swap
Keep a “want to read” list to avoid those impulsive regret buys
Only buy books you’re truly excited to read
And yes — go nuts at a warehouse sale now and then (it’s basically book rescue)
It’s Not Paper vs. Pixel — It’s Purpose
So, what will I be doing? This is no longer an ideals dilemma for me. I own a Kindle Scribe and I truly love it. It’s dual-purpose: an e-reader and a reusable notebook. I’ve saved a lot of paper with it, and I borrow nearly all the books I read via Libby, thanks to my local library. That saves me money, supports my beloved community resource, and helps the planet.
I still browse local bookshops (and try to support them with purchasing coffee or gifts when I can), and I’ll be marking my calendar for another warehouse sale in the futre.
Bottom line? I’m not feeling guilty anymore. Reading is one of the most joyful, brain-expanding, perspective-shifting habits we’ve got. Whether it’s on a glowing screen or a dog-eared page doesn’t matter nearly as much as why you’re reading and how you keep that habit sustainable.
So borrow that book. Buy it used. Load your Kindle. Dog-ear the corners. Donate when you’re done. Tell your friends.
And if you ever get the chance to wander through a warehouse full of books — trust me, do it.
This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.
