A new study analyzing the Amazon Kindle electronic book reader’s impact on the environment suggests that, on average, the carbon emitted over the life of the device is offset after the first year of use. ‘It’s not just buying e-books that matters, said the report’s author, Emma Ritch, of San Francisco-based Cleantech Group. ‘The key is they displace the purchase of 22.5 physical books. Ms. Ritch said. ‘The new study finds that e-readers could have a major impact on improving the sustainability and environmental impact on the publishing industry, one of the world’s most polluting sectors, a statement at Cleantech’s Web site states. ‘In 2008, the U.S. book and newspaper industries combined resulted in the harvesting of 125 million trees, not to mention wastewater that was produced or its massive carbon footprint. The report asserts that printed books have the highest per-unit carbon footprint - which includes its raw materials, paper production, printing, shipping, and disposal - in the publishing sector. ‘In the case of a book bought at a bookstore, Ms. Ritch said, Cleantech’s measurement ‘takes into account the fossil fuels necessary to deliver to the bookstore and the fact that 25-36 percent of those books […]