A new study has found that the carbon footprint of downloading music is substantially less than buying compact discs. But of course, there are many factors to consider.
Green Inc., a New York Times blog about energy, the environment and the bottom line, offers a graph that shows the largest carbon footprint is created when CDs are sold in retail stores—taking into account the production of CD and the case, transportation to a retail store and sometimes a warehouse too that use energy themselves. The next largest footprint is created when someone orders a CD online and has it sent by air to their home, followed closely by ground shipping, which of course includes the additional shipping packaging.
It would take less that half of the energy that retail sales take if someone were to download the music and then burn it onto a CD themselves. But if they were to only download it, the size of the carbon footprint is reduced by about 80% from retail.
There are some variables that weren’t included in the study, but should be considered by those music lovers who want to be eco-friendly. If a customer drives to the store, the carbon impace is greater than if he or she walks. Walking would create a footprint almost equal to downloading and burning your own CD.
Other considerations include large file sizes, which can require extra energy for downloading, depending on your download speed. And then there’s the carbon impact involved with CD players and digital music devices like mp3 players to consider. Ultimately, each of us needs to weigh the pros and cons of making the most of internet speed and our personal carbon footprint for ourselves.