Still not sure about the iPad? see what David Pogue has to say

After months of expectations, Apple's iPad hits the stores today. If you're still confused about the iPad capabilities and its pros and cons, check out a funny and informative video made by David Pogue of the New York Times (including a presentation of how the iPad functions as a eReader):

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

What is happening to Dunder Mifflin's core business?

It might look like a weird question, but you have to understand I was just about to see another episode of my favorite show, The Office, when I read the following news: "A record-high 63.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2009."

Wow, I said to myself, this is impressive. I should read a little more about it. The Office can wait few more minutes (I watch it on Hulu, so there's no time pressure..).

I found the news on paperrecycles.org, which is the website of the Paper Industry Association Council (PIAC) and it came from the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). It added that "this is great news for the industry and the environment, and exceeds the industry’s 60 percent recovery goal three years ahead of schedule. To balance growing global demand for recovered fiber and decreased paper consumption, increasing recovery nationwide remains a priority."

Something got my attention here - 'decreased paper consumption'. I checked the figures provided by PIAC and saw it's true - since 2004 the supply of paper is in decline. Check it out:

	Supply1 (000 tons)	Recovered (000 tons)	Recovery Rate2
1999	105,316	46,818	44.5%
2000	102,810	47,311	46.0%
2001	97,395	46,996	48.3%
2002	98,949	47,645	48.2%
2003	98,018	49,255	50.3%
2004	101,884	50,187	49.3%
2005	99,613	51,272	51.5%
2006	100,665	53,314	53.0%
2007	97,007	54,325	56.0%
2008	89,838	51,822	57.7%
2009	78,902	50,036	63.4%

Source: paperrecycles.org

And it's not a small decline: from 2004 to 2009 the supply of paper in the U.S. saw a 29% decline. Now, firstly this is one of the main reasons the recovered rate is relatively high - there's also a decline in the absolute number of recovered paper, but the supply has just decreased in a faster paste.

That's also the conclusion of the report State of Green Business 2010, although they have different figures:

For the first time since 2001, the year of the last national economic downturn, the amount of paper recovered in the U.S declined, by about 2.5 million tons. But at the same time, total paper consumption dropped nearly three times as much, so the overall percentage of paper recovery rose. In fact, the intensity of paper use — the amount of paper used per dollar of GDP — improved by the largest margin since the boom year of 2000.

And the decrease in supply is not just in the U.S. Clive Suckling, Global Leader Forest, Paper and Packaging at PricewaterhouseCoopers wrote in their report, Forest Paper and Packaging Deals. Branching Out – 2009 Annual Review, that "Market conditions for the Forest, paper and packaging (FPP) sectors remained very diffi cult in 2009. In the latter half of the year, conditions began to improve in some of the emerging markets, while demand in North America and Europe remained at historically low levels."

So it this trend going to continue? And is it a good thing? I believe that the answer is Yes for the first question. We see that the decrease in supply started couple of years before the beginning of the recession (which might got things worst of course) and is likely to continue as companies (and individuals) that try to save in their paper consumption will continue to do so, as they figure out they're reducing costs by saving on paper (see our paperless office post). Other trends as the transition from print to digital in the publishing industry will contribute to it as well.

The second question is more complicated - paper is not a bad thing in itself. Producing it unsustainably is the problem, not to mention its end of life. So even though we see improvement in the recovery rate, there's still much more to be done about the production of paper. Mandy Hagith, author of the recommended book "Paper Trails: From Trees to Trash - The True Cost of Paper" explained the problem:

"No one likes to think of trees being felled, but many of us have a cosy image in our heads that it all comes from recycling or "sustainable" woodlands growing in neat rows, perhaps somewhere in Sweden. It's a myth. Globally, 70 per cent of the 335 million tons of paper the world uses each year comes from natural, un-farmed sources. In Canada, the UK's biggest source of pulp, 90 per cent of its output comes directly from its ancient forests."

So the bottom line is that we don't want to see Dunder Mifflin going out of business and hope they be more successful under the new ownership of Sabre. We just want to see their main product becomes more sustainable!

Yours,

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Green book of the week: Global Warming by Seymour Simon

Today we review a green book that is taking on itself a big challenge that looks almost impossible - explaining global warming to children in a clear and intelligent way!

Our book is:

Global Warming

Author: Seymour Simon

Seymour Simon has been called "the dean of the [children's science book] field" by the New York Times. He has written more than 250 books for young readers and is the recipient of the Science Books & Films Key Award for Excellence in Science Books, the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people, and the Educational Paperback Association Jeremiah Ludington Award. He is also the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature. Mr. Simon lives in Great Neck, New York.

Publisher: Collins

Published on: February 2010

Ages: 5-9

What this book is about? (from the publisher's website)

Earth's climate has always varied, but it is now changing more rapidly than at any other time in recent centuries. The climate is very complex, and many factors play important roles in determining how it changes.

Why is the climate changing? Could Earth be getting warmer by itself? Are people doing things that make the climate warmer?

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon teams up with the Smithsonian Institution to give you a full-color photographic introduction to the causes and effects of global warming and climate change.

What we think about it?

Simon's book is indeed a comprehensive introduction to global warming, sort of 'An Inconvenient Truth' for children if you like. But not for them - even though this book is aimed at children in the ages of 5-9, I know many adults who will find it very useful, starting with Senator James Inhofe, Glenn Beck and other climate skeptics who might had trouble understanding Al Gore's presentation.

Simon is really doing the best he can to present a complicated issue in a simple way without compromising on depth or details. I find the result very satisfying, given this challenging task. An important part of the book that helps readers to digest the data are the beautiful photographs that you find on each and every page. These photos are really making the book and I'm sure they'll help children better understand its messages.

And yes, it has some messages. It's not just describing the causes and effects of global warming, but also providing some good advice about what can be done on the national and family levels, so children can get ideas on how to translate the information they just received into action (or at least asking mom and dad to do the right things).

Bottom Line: In times where the scientific base of global warming is being attacked again and again, this book is providing a great deal of clarity for both children and their parents. Recommended!

Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the publisher.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on Eco-Libris website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Why organic foods wish they were e-Books

The short answer? because this way they'll get a front page coverage every week on the New York Times. The long answer? here we go.

I opened the New York Times this morning and found an article on the front page about books' covers in the digital age (In E-Book Era, You Can’t Even Judge a Cover by Motoko Rich). Now, this was a great article and the subject is very interesting. What's even more interesting is the fact that the New York Times publish almost every week an article (at least one) on the front page of the newspaper or the front page of the business section on e-books.

So it got me thinking , why they write so much on e-books? why not organic foods for example? I mean, I've got nothing against e-books. On the contrary, I see a great potential in them to make the book industry more sustainable. Still, I can show you that if you compare e-books to organic foods, organic foods easily win, just not when it comes to front page coverage on the New York Times.

Now, just to be clear. It's not just the New York Times. If you check searches on Google in the last month, you find that 'e-Books' has received 60,100,000 searches last month (or 127,000,000 if you write it in one word - ebooks). On the other hand, 'organic food' has received 1,020,000 searches, or 442,000 if you write it as 'organic foods'. It's totally clear that everyone is more excited about e-books. So why do I think organic foods should get at least similar attention? check out this comparison I made:

Factor	e-Books	Organic Foods
Relevance	Book readers	Everyone (we all have to eat, right?)
Market share	Less than 2% (2009 figures)	3.5% (2008 figures)
Sales	$240 Million (J.P. Morgan estimate)	$24.6 Billion (2008 figures)
Potential penetration	5.8% of the market / $1.25 Billion (2013 est.)	5-10% of the market (Organic Trade Association, 2006b)
Heroes	Steve Jobs	Chef Jamie Oliver, Michele Obama, Michael Pollan
Interesting stories	The Launch of iPad	New reality show – the Naked Chef wants to save America from its own fatness
Conflicts	Amazon vs. Apple	Big Ag vs. Michelle Obama’s garden
On the radar of VC funds	Not really	Yes (as seen at Agriculture 2.0)
Cool Stuff	iPad	Vertical Farms Project, Greenhorns
Change factor	Change the way we read	Change the way we eat

So, what's missing? how come e-Books still win? I guess the only factor that organic foods are missing is the hype factor. Somehow e-Books are more exciting than organic milk or free-range eggs? or maybe it's just the media pumping up our excitement because they think we think it's cool, so eventually we really think it's cool.. Anyway, no matter what this magic ingredient is, I'm sure the organic foods producers and retailers would love to have it!

What do you think? Why e-Books get so much attention? Feel free to add your comment.

You can read more interesting articles on e-Books vs. physical books and the future of publishing on our website.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

A great video on the future of publishing

Here's a clever video prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books and produced by Khaki Films. We like it and we hope that you'll enjoy it as well:



Here are some more details about it from its YouTube's page:
This video was prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books and produced by Khaki Films (http://www.thekhakigroup.com/). Originally meant solely for a DK sales conference, the video was such a hit internally that it is now being shared externally. We hope you enjoy it (and make sure you watch it up to at least the halfway point, there's a surprise!).

Read an interview with the creator of the video on the Penguin Blog: http://bit.ly/futureofpublishing. The clip was inspired by a video created by an Argentinean agency, Savaglio/TBWA entitled Truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFz5jbUfJbk

If you're looking for more resources on the future of publishing, please check our 'Future of Publishing' webpage at http://www.ecolibris.net/publishing_future.asp, where we share with you some of the most interesting articles, posts, updates and news we find on this issue.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Challenge16 - More biking, more change, more trees!

I am far from being an example when it comes to riding a bike. I wish I would ride them much more and drive a car much less.

I believe that riding a bike is a win-win, getting you healthier and supporting the environment at the same time. That's why I was excited to hear about the new campaign - Challenge16 - Ride the Bike, Drive the Change!

This is a free global biking campaign aiming at making people and the world healthier. It challenges everybody to use their bike in their daily movements in order to save CO₂, and for every 16 new members who join challenge16.com a new tree will be planted with Plant a Tree Denmark, a Danish NGO that launched the campaign.

Their idea is to enable people to act now and to put pressure on politicians at the next COP16 in Mexico. "We wanted to make a simple campaign with great effect. Most people have a bike, and if you jump on your bike instead of getting behind the wheel in your everyday movements, you can actually save some CO₂. At the same time, we plant new trees, and trees absorb CO₂. It is an equation with a pretty good result" says Bjørn Døssing, Information Manager at Plant a Tree, Denmark.

"It is definitely our ambition that Challenge16 spreads across the world” continues Bjørn Døssing. “We are convinced that there is great commitment all over the world to make an effort to fight climate changes. But we have to ensure that the challenge asked is a practicable one. Even small changes, like using the bike instead of the car and planting new trees have a positive impact on both climate and body. We really hope this initiative will spread in ever-widening circles.”

The campaign suggest that every person counts. I couldn't agree more and I join their call to act now! You can read more details on their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5575149&id=690835338#!/challenge16?ref=ts

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

How to green your Seder?

Today is the time for the Passover Seder, which is a Jewish ritual held on the first night (and in some places also in the second night) of Passover, which is one of my favorite Jewish holidays.

The Seder is a family gathering, sitting together around the table, reading the Haggadah (he story of the Israelite exodus from Egypt), singing the holiday songs and eating the holiday's traditional food. Even President Obama will host one at the White House.

So how do you green your Seder? Yahoo! Joe Laur has some great recommendations on Greenopolis, Ann Bell Muzaurieta adds on the Daily Green tips and recipes to keep your Passover healthy and sustainable, and finally the Huddler's Green Home Community brings you on Yahoo! Green 10 good tips on how to have an eco-friendly and organic Seder.

I haven't found yet an Haggadah from recycled paper, but still there are other many steps you can take to make sure you celebrate the Passover in an eco-friendly style.

Enjoy your Seder and Happy Passover!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!