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Physical Discs Emit 100x More CO2 Than Digital Downloads

11/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Greenly, a French carbon accounting firm, reports that 1 million physical discs emit 312 tons of CO2, compared with 3 tons for digital downloads.
Consoles in the United States consume 3.9 terawatt hours of electricity annually, producing about 1.6 million metric tons of CO2.
Handheld systems are the most eco-friendly, emitting 13.8 kg CO2e per year.
The study urges reducing energy use and promoting second-hand game sales.

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Story summary

Greenly, a French carbon accounting firm, reports that 1 million physical discs emit 312 tons of CO2, compared with 3 tons for digital downloads.
Consoles in the United States consume 3.9 terawatt hours of electricity annually, producing about 1.6 million metric tons of CO2.
Handheld systems are the most eco-friendly, emitting 13.8 kg CO2e per year.
The study urges reducing energy use and promoting second-hand game sales.