HP has recently published the results of its Life Cycle Assessment of different paperback book printing options. The comparative study, “The Environmental Case for Digitally Printed Books”, focuses on the US market but its reasoning is relevant for book markets around the world.
The basic conclusion, as you might expect from the title, is that digital printing is less damaging to the environment than the conventional sort. However the story isn’t quite that simple and book publishers should look closely at this report as part of their future publishing strategies. Publishers can use printing technology synergies to balance higher profitability with the need to reduce their environmental impact.
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