| Green is the new black. A 2006 Pew poll found that | | | | a year of use. In addition to the fact that attempts at |
| around half of the residents of many countries were | | | | carbon neutral publishing such as these are improving |
| personally concerned about global warming. However, | | | | the environment, e-readers, which allow individuals to |
| the same poll found that the U.S. and China, the largest | | | | download books the way music is downloaded for an |
| global warming culprits, felt little worry about the issue. | | | | iPod, are starting a new trend. The Association of |
| In 2009, this attitude is beginning to change. People | | | | American Publishers concludes that the purchase of |
| want to live sustainably, even in the word's most | | | | e-books has risen by more than 100%! |
| commercial countries, so more and more sustainable | | | | But while e-readers are carbon efficient, they're not |
| products and services are being offered. Now, | | | | completely carbon neutral. To be so, companies would |
| customers can choose everything from hybrid cars to | | | | have to buy carbon credits to offset the carbon used |
| organic, hand sewn baby clothes as alternatives to | | | | to make the readers and the carbon needed to run |
| carbon causing mass production. Companies and | | | | the computers and servers that hold the digital media |
| industries are making an attempt to go carbon neutral | | | | and make downloading possible. In addition, the |
| by reducing their emissions and taking measures to | | | | companies that market e-readers are also in the |
| erase their carbon footprints. | | | | business of publishing and distributing paper books, a |
| The history of carbon neutral publishing, or at least | | | | carbon nightmare. However, another technology |
| attempts at carbon neutral publishing, begins with | | | | provides a way for complete carbon neutral publishing. |
| recycled paper. In 2008, Tyson Miller - the founder of | | | | These publishers offer completely carbon neutral |
| the Green Press Initiative - worked with others to | | | | publishing by not only providing a forum in which writers |
| compile a report on the book industry's sustainability. | | | | can publish e-books and other publications online with |
| What they found was that paper accounted for the | | | | no paper use, but also by offsetting all carbon |
| majority of the industry's carbon output, around 70%. | | | | emissions through purchasing carbon credits from |
| Magazines, journals, and newspapers that are printed | | | | Carbon Clear. |
| in hard copy form also had to deal with this shocking | | | | So how do you get involved in carbon neutral |
| news. Even through recycled paper was one attempt | | | | publishing? The answer is simple, don't use paper, and |
| to curb this problem, publishers knew that they needed | | | | publish your work with a virtual publisher like Libretto. |
| to do more. And that's where attempts at carbon | | | | Make sure you evaluate your chosen e-publisher |
| neutral publishing got digital. | | | | before submitting to determine that your publisher is |
| Many of the largest publishers have begun taking their | | | | carbon neutral, not just carbon efficient. This means |
| materials into cyberspace instead of sending them to | | | | that the publisher takes all steps to completely |
| the printing press. Because they're not using paper, | | | | neutralize the carbon used to run the business, which is |
| these companies are significantly cutting carbon | | | | primarily produced as a result of electronic equipment |
| emissions. Just a few of these new technologies | | | | such as computers and servers. As the numbers of |
| include e-readers like those marketed by Amazon, | | | | individuals concerned about publishing continues to |
| Barnes & Noble, and Sony, which allow individuals | | | | grow, more and more publishers will get on the carbon |
| to read books, magazines, and newspapers in digital | | | | neutral publication bandwagon. But until then, you can |
| format. According to the New York Times, the carbon | | | | make a difference by choosing carbon neutral |
| emissions of these devices are neutralized after about | | | | publishing. |