Newspapers boosted by environmental impact survey

According to the survey, which compares the environmental impact of one hour of consumption of newspapers and online, the printed newspaper is, on average, a more ecological news media.  

However, the survey added that taking into account actual usage volume and consumption hours at the current level; the annual environmental impacts of print media generally outweigh those of a corresponding online service.

 
The company carried out the service in order to ascertain the life-cycle of online versus print as it plans to build a new press in Tampere, Finland.
 
Kai Telanne, president and chief executive of Alma Media, said: "The survey has also inspired us to carefully analyse the environmental impacts of the information and communication technologies supply chain."
 
According to Alma Media, comparing the environmental impacts of print media and online services is difficult as the most significant environmental impacts concern different environmental issues.
 
It said: "For instance, the amount of time spent reading does not factor into the environmental impact of the printed newspaper, whereas the impacts of online media are largely dependent on reading time."
 
The study indicates that the environmental impacts of print media are primarily created in the early part of the product life cycle, while the environmental impacts of online services are primarily created towards the end of the product life cycle.
 
The survey added: "The publisher can influence the environmental impacts of a printed newspaper by making appropriate purchasing decisions and by improving the energy and materials efficiency of buildings and production operations.
 
"The publisher can mitigate the environmental impacts of online services through cooperation with supply chain partners and by communicating with customers on the subject of the ecological consumption of online services."