The environment and energy section of the New York Times have an interesting article entitled, “Eliminate Newspapers, Save the Planet?” after Marriot, the hotel group decided not to automatically issue guests with a newspaper, but instead let them request one at the check in if desired.
The reason behind the change is to reduce the distribution of papers and in doing so lower carbon emissions. The policy, according to the Marriot should reduce distribution by about 18 million a year, which equals approximately 10,350 tonnes of carbon emissions being reduced.
J.W. Marriot Jr., the chief executive of the company said, “I’m stepping over unclaimed newspapers as I walk down the hallway.” As an alternative the company is thinking about introducing online news on screens in lobbies in some hotels.
However the New York Times provide a counter argument to the Marriot’s proposal. Marriot fail to mention the increase in electricity online news screens would generate.
The article gave an interesting look into the future, one with even more digitalisation of the world, and the advantages and disadvantages that are to come. It also mentions a study by a Harvard physicist that was reported in The Times, that a typical Google search, requiring a few attempts, generates 7 grammes of carbon dioxide. However, Google disputed some aspects of the report.
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