Eco-Effectiveness Summary and Analysis

This chapter opens with a comparison of three books. The first is a typical bookstore book, which is printed on beautiful quality paper with nice bright ink, including a beautifully colored jacket and sturdy cardboard cover. One might think it is a biodegradable product, but it is not. Instead, the paper contains chlorine in every aspect of production, so it adds toxic chlorine to the environment when recycled. In addition, printing inks, even soy inks, are toxic when they break down. An electronic book is an option which is now being discovered. However, there is another option. As with this book Cradle to Cradle, the book may be manufactured from an easily recycled polymer, not even paper at all. The inks can be nontoxic and easily washed off with appropriate chemicals when ready. A third book would perfect the process in...