Welcome to another "This or That" episode!

This short, snappy installment investigates the sustainability of three topics you've asked me about, helping you make informed decisions.

In this episode, we’ll be covering three unusual options:

• E-readers vs. physical books: Kindles versus your everyday old book.


• Hand dryers vs. paper towels: I personally find hand dryers annoying.


• The best type of laundry detergent: There are many options, but I've been seeing a lot of advertising for those strip things, and I have strong opinions about them.

In this episode, I share:

• The pros and cons of e-readers like Kindle versus traditional books from an environmental perspective.


• Why a physical book has a higher carbon footprint initially but can last decades.


• The surprising third option for reading that is actually better.


• Why hand dryers have a lower environmental impact.


• Why laundry strips are not as eco-friendly as their marketing suggests.


• How tablets are convenient but may contribute to microplastic pollution.


• What the worst detergent solution is for the environment.

Key Quotes:

• "If you're a heavy reader, an e-reader is the best option. But just keep that thing for as long as you possibly can."


• "Paper towels may slightly reduce bacteria on hands compared to air dryers, but the difference is pretty minimal for practical purposes."


• "These strips don’t dissolve as they claim to... it’s a pretty big red flag."

More Information:

I mentioned a few LCAs and information references that you can find here:

1. Comparative study on printed books and e-book reading devices


2. Eco-friendly reading options


3. Life cycle assessment of e-books and printed books in South Africa


4. NPR article on books vs. e-readers


5. Life cycle assessment of hand dryers vs. paper towels


6. ScienceDirect study on hand drying methods


7. MIT study on hand drying methods


8. ResearchGate study on hand drying at the University of Melbourne


9. Springer study on the environmental impact of hand drying methods


10. Life cycle assessment of laundry detergents


11. Study on sustainable laundry detergents


12. Eco-friendly laundry detergent solutions


13. Consumer report on best eco-friendly laundry detergents

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