The Hidden Cost of “Paperless”

Submitted: Two Sides North America July 13, 2025

Rethinking the Environmental Impact of AI and Digital Communications

For more than a decade, the message “go paperless, go green” has been used by companies and organizations encouraging customers to opt for digital over print. But as we know from our own research and newly emerging data, this long-standing assumption is due for a rethink.

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasing use of digital platforms, we must continually examine the real environmental cost of “paperless” communications—and whether digital is truly the greener option.

The Illusion of Invisibility

One of the most powerful myths in sustainability today is the idea that going paperless with digital has no footprint. Emails, cloud storage, AI interactions—they all feel weightless and invisible. But the reality is far from carbon-neutral. Every digital interaction, from reading a PDF to asking ChatGPT a question, demands energy. And as AI becomes a central part of how we communicate, search, and work, that demand is growing fast—and so is the environmental toll.

AI’s Growing Appetite for Power

According to a May 2024 report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), it takes 10 times more energy to send a single query to ChatGPT than it does to run a traditional Google search without AI-generated summaries. That’s a staggering increase, especially when scaled to the hundreds of millions of interactions AI handles daily. The report posits that “creation of original music, photos, and videos based upon user prompts and other emerging AI applications could require much more power.”

OpenAI’s ChatGPT alone is estimated to consume more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—approximately $139.7 million in energy costs, just to keep the system running.

And it’s not just about electricity. AI systems generate significant heat and rely heavily on water for cooling. Research from the University of California, Riverside shows that writing a 100-word email with ChatGPT uses up to 1.4 liters of water, mostly to cool the data center servers that processed that single message.

To put it in perspective: even saying “thank you” to an AI assistant costs energy and water—resources that are increasingly strained by climate change. It takes 40 to 50 milliliters of water to generate a three-word “You are welcome” response from ChatGPT.

Here’s a deep dive from MIT on the math of AI power usage.

Digital Sustainability: A Complex Equation

The environmental costs of digital technology are increasingly visible to researchers and energy analysts, but often remain invisible to consumers. Unlike a stack of printed pages, the server farms, power grids, and cooling systems behind a simple AI-generated paperless email or chatbot query are out of sight—and out of mind.

This disconnect fuels the mistaken belief that digital is always the more sustainable choice. But as AI usage explodes, the strain on our power grids and water supplies is becoming impossible to ignore. In many regions, local communities are beginning to push back on the rapid expansion of AI data centers due to increased utility bills and environmental stress.

For the first time, the Mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM Interconnection, which supplies electricity for 13 states and Washington DC, says it may fall short. According to a special report from WHYY in Philadelphia, PJM’s executive director of systems operations says, “the biggest increase in demand comes from the enormous amount of energy required to power artificial intelligence and data centers.”

Meanwhile, various reports show that water-hungry data centers keep popping up in drought-sensitive areas, and a single 100-megawatt data center can use up to 2 million liters of water per day, roughly equal to the daily water use of 6,500 households.

Paper: Renewable, Recyclable, Responsible

Unlike going paperless with digital technology, paper is made from a renewable resource—trees—and is one of the most recycled materials in North America.

Furthermore, sustainable forestry practices—mandated by certification bodies like the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI)—ensure that the forests supplying paper are responsibly managed and growing. In fact, the demand for paper products provides a strong financial incentive to keep forestland forested rather than converted to other uses.

Well-managed forests are not only essential for biodiversity and carbon storage, but they also support rural economies and provide the raw material for an industry that continues to innovate in circular manufacturing practices.

Water Use: Paper vs. Paperless Data Centers

It’s true that paper manufacturing uses water—but unlike many other industrial processes, the pulp and paper industry has developed advanced systems for reusing and returning it. In a typical U.S. paper mill, process water is recycled 10 times or more, then it is cleaned to meet strict U.S. water quality standards, and approximately 90% is returned to its source. About 1% remains in the manufactured products, and the rest evaporates back into the environment. This closed-loop system minimizes water consumption and helps protect surrounding ecosystems.

In contrast, AI data centers consume vast amounts of water, primarily for cooling their high-powered servers. While some hyperscale operators have begun experimenting with water reuse, most data centers still consume rather than recycle the majority of their water. When using traditional cooling methods, a one-megawatt data center would consume upwards of 26 million liters of water annually. In regions facing water stress—such as parts of the Western U.S.—this consumption is becoming a growing concern for local governments and environmental watchdogs. Data centers, fortunately, are starting to find ways to become more efficient in recycling water and utilizing recycled or gray water in the first place.

Rethinking the Narrative

At Two Sides North America, we advocate for a more balanced, fact-based understanding of the environmental impacts of all media—print and digital. While digital tools have undeniable benefits and efficiencies, we must move beyond the outdated narrative that paper is bad and digital is clean.

Consumers, policymakers, and businesses deserve accurate information so they can make truly sustainable choices. That includes recognizing the hidden costs of AI and digital platforms, as well as the real and measurable benefits of paper, especially when sourced and produced responsibly.

To explore more facts about print and sustainability, visit www.twosidesna.org.