Softwareload.co.uk recently released a report where it stated that ditching ‘hardcopy’ software packages in favor of direct downloads could reduce the carbon footprint of the global software industry by 80 percent.

Almost all the major software vendors today soft copies of their applications these days, which can easily be downloaded from the vendor site.

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While producing standard sized CD-Roms (including manuals), the ‘physical copy’ figure was attained by environment consultancy First Climate and was calculated accounting for transport and production factors throughout the supply chain. The download figure was achieved using metrics such as server and computer power consumption. The company state that the habit of downloading software reduces consumer’s carbon footprint, as well as saves them time and money.

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The full article is available here:
http://green.tmcnet.com/topics/green/articles/87451-download-software-save-nature-says-softwareloadcouk.htm