Giada Cortese is a freelance teacher from Italy. Over the years, she has managed to combine her passion for languages and education with her interest in foreign cultures. She has taught English and Italian in 9 countries across Europe, Middle East and South East Asia. She is now based in Bratislava, where she works for The Bridge. Email: giadacortese89@gmail.com

 

About the book

by Georgina Wilson-Powell 

Paperback

Publisher: DK

January 5, 2021

224 pages

$8.99

 

 

Are eBooks more eco-friendly than paper books?

 

Is eating imported plant-based food kinder to the planet than eating local animal products? Do I have to stop wearing make-up in order to be environmentally friendly? And, is my smartphone killing the planet?

 

These are just some of the questions that might come up whenever we try to lead a more eco-conscious lifestyle.

 

Let’s face it: making sensible choices to reduce our carbon footprint is noble, but it is not always easy, and there can be a lot of contrasting information out there. Feeling overwhelmed is more than common, and the temptation to give up and go on a shopping-binging mission in the nearest fast-fashion store is just around the corner.

 

Here’s a little story. A few years ago, I realised that my Vans shoes were completely destroyed; I would have normally thrown them away and bought an identical pair, without really thinking about it. However, while looking at my old shoes, I happened to read the label “made in Vietnam”, and something clicked in my head. I was obviously aware that my beloved shoes were not produced in the most ethical and environmentally- friendly manner. But all of a sudden, I was sickened by it. Therefore, I decided to purchase a different kind of product, ideally something produced in the country where I lived and made of recycled materials.

 

It was a nightmare: what I thought would have been a simple 5-minute Google search turned into a proper part-time job. I kept digging for information for weeks, falling into a real rabbit hole.

 

That’s when I came across Georgina Wilson-Powell’s Is it really green? Everyday eco-dilemmas answered.

 

First published in the UK in 2021, this green bible provides answers to more than 140 eco-problems, offering a go-to guide for when the chaos clouds your judgment.

Because you have to walk the talk, this book has been produced, published and distributed following the principles of DK’s Green Pledge: every single choice, from the paper to the ink, to the location of the printers and warehouses, has been made in order to create an object in the least environmentally impactful manner.

 

The manual is divided into 10 sections: from food and drinks to technology and traveling, to family life and…death (have you ever wondered how to be green when you die?). Needless to say, after reading this book, you will be left with almost no doubts.

 

What I like the most about Wilson-Powell’s work is its scientific, factual approach, based on (sometimes shocking) numbers and statistics. At the same time, it strongly highlights the importance of taking into accounts every variable and getting educated and informed on how things are managed locally and in each household: the greenest choice, in fact, might often differ from person to person.

 

For example, if we were to answer the first question introduced in this article: Are e-books less environmentally damaging than paper books?

 

What would your answer be?