No wonder we’re getting so much direct mail. UK’s mail order industry is worth £25 billion per year – a huge marketplace. And although direct mail is used as a promotion tool by some genuine companies, the majority of unsolicited mail arriving to your doorstep is junk mail.
Scientists in the US have estimated that waste paper makes one quarter of the total landfill space. It could have been recycled. Apart from recycling, which is something that we are responsible for, there are other measures that can help us cut paper consumption.
Say No to Junk Mail
Fighting junk mail should be made a priority. You can opt out from receiving marketing via mail by visiting mpsonline.org.uk and stayprivate.org. I suggest you use both just in case. For USA check dmachoice.org and fill in the application form.
If you are a business and considering trying direct mail as a marketing tool, visit businesslink.co.uk (the-dma.org if from the US) to find out about rules you will have to comply with.
Opting out, however, only works with companies that comply with rules. People who send you fake lotteries and Chinese takeaway menus, will probably continue wasting paper even after you opt out. Although, apart from using common sense, there’s not much you can do to stop them, there’s a way to annoy at least few of them: if they provide a paid response envelope hoping to see a completed order form back from you, send them back an empty envelope. It’ll cost them 30p in postage expenses.
And make sure you tell your relatives and neighbours about paper consumption and ways they can make their lives greener!
Paper Directories are Bad
When it comes to paper consumption, we have to talk about paper telephone directories – one of Britain’s worst and most useless industries. The three major national paper directories – Yellow Pages, BT and Thomson publish almost 80 million directories every year – that’s around 24,000 tons of paper or 420,000 mature trees totally wasted year in year out.
The funny thing is that although a phone directory is usually packed with data, you will never find that particular thing that you’re looking for. After all there’s internet and phone directory enquiries, so a 21st century Briton doesn’t really need a paper directory.
The good news is that you can opt out. Just phone them and say that you no longer want to receive their paper directories.
- Yellow Pages, call free-phone 0800 671 444.
- Thomson Local won’t be bothered to offer you a free number to call but you can email your request including your name and address to info@thomsonlocal.com or alternatively call 01252 555 555.
- BT Directory – call 0800 833 400; and isn’t it a good time to opt out your home number from the White Pages while you’re on it? Or you like those salesmen pestering you?
If you live in the US, visit yellowpagesgoesgreen.com for information on how to opt out.
We would all need to strive to become a paperless household. On average, a paperless household saves 6 mature trees from cutting and 200kgs of greenhouse gases from being emitted. What can your family do to reduce paper consumption?
pic by Frank Hebbert via Creative Commons
