Ecology Wise
If you still have questions, enlist the expertise of your printer, suggests Planet Dog’s Frost. “Just be sure they know your requirements.”
A sample form for paper mill evaluation performance can be found at www.environmentaldefense.org.
Recycle Your Own Paper and Packaging
“Recycling is a loop,” says Mills. “Making it work effectively means both buying paper made with recycled content and recovering paper after it’s used.”
Planet Dog recycles all of its white paper and cardboard, and it uses recycled products in its packaging.
Encourage your customers to recycle by posting messages on your Web site, offers Smith. Or use The DMA’s RecyclePlease logo (www.recycleplease.org) on your catalogs to show your support of environmental issues. Encourage your customers and prospects to learn more about recycling.
U.S. Paper Recycling Facts
- Americans recovered 49.3 million tons of paper for recycling in 2003, representing 50 percent of all paper consumed in the United States.
- More than 37 percent of the raw material used to make new paper products comes from recycled paper.
- Nearly 80 percent of all U.S. papermakers use recovered fiber to make new paper products.
- Every ton of paper recovered for recycling saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
- More paper currently is recovered for recycling than is landfilled.
Source: American Forest & Paper Association
For More Reading
The DMA Environmental Resource for Direct Marketers
Available from The Direct Marketing Association
(212) 790-1500
Cost: free
The Direct Marketing Association’s third edition distills key environmental concepts down to practical steps to help businesses operate in a more environmentally friendly manner. Additionally, it provides practical information for learning about the source of paper supplies; designing mailings and targeting lists to minimize waste; paying attention to packing materials; and other areas in which to minimize environmental impact.
