What about the environmental benefits of reading with a smartphone?

In his article about the supposed cognitive benefits of reading printed books, Tobin neglects an important issue.1 The possible environmental cost of doctors reading printed media is significant. Worldwide the paper industry is the fifth largest consumer of energy accounting for 4% of total global energy use.2 The average consumer using ebooks instead of buying print versions could save an estimated total of 1074 kg carbon dioxide over four years.3 If this figure was applied to every doctor in the world, each of whom is likely to consume more media than the average consumer, the energy savings would be tremendous.

Climate change has been described as the greatest public health challenge this century,4 and doctors have been urged to be ecologically responsible.5 We contend that the possible environmental impact of printed books and journal articles more than negates any of their cognitive benefits. Doctors should therefore continue to use their smartphones and computers to access reading material.