Recycled Mailing

Recycled Mailing

If you use direct mail as a promotional tool, you can easily ensure that your business is reducing wastage by using the following mechanisms.

1) Using the Mailing Preference Service

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) allows consumers and businesses to register their wish to limit the amount of direct mail they receive. Simply checking your data lists will ensure that you do not mail those who have opted into the MPS, and so avoid unnecessary wastage.

2) Cleansing your lists

Cleansing your list will ensure that you are targeting a more specific audience. Improved targeting reduces the risk of “Junk Mail”. No business wants their mailings to be perceived as “junk”, and a targeted approach can reduce unnecessary costs to your business and an unnecessary waste of resources.

3) Review the format and design of your mailings

Could you mailings be simplified? It is important to review your mailings and consider whether your message is being sent in a powerful yet environmentally friendly way. Pages and pages of information are often preventable, and can actually deter the end receiver from reading the mailing. Could you reduce the amount of information in your mailings? Similarly, are you sending information that includes avoidable inserts? Regularly reviewing the content of mailings can both minimise the environmental impact and also ensure that your business is producing effective content.

4) Recycled or Recyclable?

Can your mailings be sent on recycled paper, it is important to remember that “recycled paper” can mean anything from 100% recycled to 1% recycled! If this is not something that you could consider, can your mailings be recycled? A small proportion of mailings are not recyclable. Staples are acceptable for recycling, but some glues used in binding for example, mean that the whole mailing will be rejected for recycling.

The Direct Marketing Association has long been spearheading a campaign to reduce the environmental impact of direct marketing. Implementing these simple steps can enable your business to minimise its environmental impact. Evaluating your environmental impact can also prove to be cost effective and can assist in reducing direct marketing costs. Also, potential customers may be more responsive to your business if they can see it making efforts to reduce environmental impact.

Direct marketing techniques can provide a range of benefits to your business, but you need to keep a careful eye on its environmental impact now more than ever. Don’t forget that if you are using direct marketing to either existing or potential customers, the quality and accuracy of your data needs to be up to standard, to avoid wastage and get the best possible results.

Make sure you invest in data cleansing and quality lists from only the most reputable of sources. Never be tempted to cut corners by using out of date lists or buying in low cost poorly targeted databases.

About the Author:

Steve Sellwood of http://www.selectabase.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading independent direct marketing list providers. Selectabase provide a range of marketing lists for business and consumer markets, as well as affordable data cleansing services.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Direct Mail

	Printworks Elementree White Matte Mailing Labels for Inkjet or Laser Printers or Copiers, 100% Recycled, 12 Sheets/Pack, 00673 List Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $3.99
	Printworks White Matte Mailing Labels offer the same great quality but are made with 100% post-consumer recycled fiber for the most eco-friendly label available. The peel-away backing liner is made with 100% renewable wood fiber and as a whole, is part of the Elementree(R) sustainable North American product program...

	CareMail 1143553 100% Recycled Storage/Mailing Box, Extra Small, 8" x 8" x 4", 12 Per Pack, Kraft Sale Price: $12.99
	Great for mailing, shipping, moving, & storage Durable 32# ECT Sustainable Attributes: Made from renewable resources 100% total recycled content, 90% post-consumer Exceeds CPG guidelines Recyclable with corrugate

	Ampad 19706 Ampad Envirotech Recycled Catalog Envelopes, 9x12, 60lb, Natural Brown,110/Box List Price: $17.49 Sale Price: $9.52
	Features a wide gummed seal for bulk mailings. 60-lb. heavyweight stock reduces rips and punctures. Uses recycled materials while still giving professional results.

	Quality Park 100% Recycled Catalog Envelope, 9 inches x 12 inches, Kraft, Clasp, 100 Count (38711) List Price: $30.49 Sale Price: $8.95
	100% Recycled Brown Kraft Clasp Envelopes-- Manufactured from fully recycled, chlorine free Kraft paper stock. 100% post-consumer content.

	Quality Park 100% Recycled Kraft Catalog Envelope, 10 inches x 13 inches, Redi-Seal, 100 Count (43711) List Price: $44.99 Sale Price: $15.10
	100% Recycled Brown Kraft Redi-Seal? Envelopes-- Manufactured from fully recycled, chlorine free Kraft paper stock. 100% post-consumer content. Redi-Seal? version requires no moisture to seal. Simply fold flap and press.

	Columbian COR90 Columbian Clasp Envelopes, Recycled, 9x12, Brown Kraft, 100/Box List Price: $23.99 Sale Price: $10.25
	Clasp allows envelope to be used multiple times. Eyelet is reinforced to reduce tearing. Features a gummed flap for a quick and secure closure.

	Duck Caremail Brand Small Recycled Shipping Box, Brown Kraft, 8 x 8 x 4 Inches (1092726) List Price: $2.49 Sale Price: $2.49
	Duck's CareMail line of recycled mailing products is dedicated to preserving the earth's natural resources for future generations. CareMail Brand Recycled Corrugated Boxes are made from natural, renewable resources and are manufactured using 100% recycled fibers, 90% of which are post-consumer...

	Duck Caremail Brand Medium Recycled Shipping Box, Brown Kraft, 16 x 16 x 10 Inches (1092730) List Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $3.99
	Duck's CareMail line of recycled mailing products is dedicated to preserving the earth's natural resources for future generations. CareMail Brand Recycled Corrugated Boxes are made from natural, renewable resources and are manufactured using 100% recycled fibers, 90% of which are post-consumer...

	NAT92524 - Recycled Mailing Tube, 2-1/2Dx25L, Brown List Price: $4.69 Sale Price: $3.18
	Recycled Mailing Tube, 2-1/2Dx25L, Brown

	Quality Park 100% Recycled Kraft Catalog Envelope 10 inches x 13 inches, Kraft, Redi-Strip, 100 Count (44711) List Price: $48.99 Sale Price: $16.02
	100% Recycled Brown Kraft Redi-Strip? Envelopes-- Manufactured from fully recycled, chlorine free Kraft paper stock. 100% post-consumer content. Redi-Strip? version features a removable strip that provides a clean, quick seal immediately upon contact...