The Guardian on Greenest Music: CD or Download?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.23.06
Lloyd once got all enthused about how the iPod Nano might be a contender for green product of the year. Personally I was a tad more skeptical, seeing as it required a computer to transfer the music to the player and we all know that computers are crammed with plenty of nasties. Was sure that some industrious soul must’ve done a life cycle assessment (LCA) on just how verdant iPod use might be. Almost a year later I’ve stumbled upon just such research, quoted by the British Guardian’s enviro blog. They found a 2003 study, by Digital Europe, which looked at the ecological rucksack for getting your ears onto an average album. Purchasing a CD at a shop came in at 1.6 kg, while ordering the same physical disk over the internet reduced this to 1.3 kg. Downloading the music dropped this even further, almost in half to 0.7 kg. Mind you, buying your new beats via the likes of iTunes is one thing, but if you then burn your own CD from that download, your ecological rucksack shoots way up to 5.5 kg. And buying a fresh iPod every time a shiny new model arrives on the scene doesn’t garner any brownie points either. Makes for an intriguing little read. ::The Guardian.
Regarding ipods, I found a really cool ipod gift idea at
www.earthtechproducts.com called "Give the gift of Solar Powered Music" they are giving away 10 free itunes music downloads with purchase of an Soldius1 solar ipod & cell phone charger....Sounds like a great holiday gift that lowers the eco impact of ipod use with a solar charger. You can see it here : http://www.earthtechproducts.com/p7.html
I am glad that this is being looked at, but I feel that this article overlooks an important point about local business. The ecological footprint of on-line music does not include the support of local businesses such as record stores. I can't imagine that this woudl charge the numbers of the study by very much, but it is still an important ill-side effect of on-line marketplace.
Quoted From (G1bbs)
"I am glad that this is being looked at, but I feel that this article overlooks an important point about local business. The ecological footprint of on-line music does not include the support of local businesses such as record stores. I can't imagine that this woudl charge the numbers of the study by very much, but it is still an important ill-side effect of on-line marketplace."
Well I think people that think like you are the only thing holding us back from lots of great things ... just becuase there is no records cds ect.. ect... to sell at a store dosen't mean it has to kill thouse jobs.
make it so when you go to a store you can buy music onto your Ipod mp3 player account for that store for cheaper people really need to start thinking outside the box if they want to have this wonderful planet we live on to stay wonderful
I too think this is a good issue to consider, with all MP3 players and for that matter all electronics. Considering what the cost is economically to have an electronic driven world to one that works the more old fashion way.
I have had the same ipod for years so I feel good doing my part and not getting a new one everytime. I also thought about the local business argument, however I have lived many places and do not find many "local" stores anymore. Most are branches.
am glad that this is being looked at, but I feel that this article overlooks an important point about local business. The ecological footprint of on-line music does not include the support of local businesses such as record stores. I can't imagine that this woudl charge the numbers of the study by very much, but it is still an important ill-side effect of on-line marketplace.