Previously here on my blog, I wrote about my disdain for “Junk Mail” (aka - Standard Mail); “Efforts to Block Junk Mail Slowed by Postal Service and Environmentalists!”
Well, it appears the effort to improve the image of junk mailers is in full swing, and guess who’s helping out… the U.S. Postal Service.
The United States Postal Service is on the case, too. It has taken out a trademark on the term “environMAIList” to refer to marketers that adopt greener mail practices and try to make direct marketing more eco-friendly.
On its Web site — right after it notes that every dollar spent on direct mail returns almost $12 in sales — the Postal Service now lists green tips for marketers, like letting people easily opt out of mailings, using water-based inks and recycled materials, and encouraging customers to recycle the mailing after reading it.
In May, the Postal Service mailed — on recycled paper, of course — general tips on greening up direct mail to about 100,000 companies. Those who send back a card asking for more information will get an organic cotton T-shirt and a handbook giving more detail on how to adopt greener practices.
The Postal Service has also been sending press kits to reporters to spur coverage of its green push. Part of the pitch says: “Although direct-mail accounts for only 2.4 percent of landfill waste, many opportunities are available to lessen its environmental impact even more.”
Both the post office and the Green Marketing Coalition have stopped short of setting concrete goals. The coalition’s guidelines, listed at greenmarketingcoalition.com, do not specify any measurable milestones or target dates for action.
Shouldn’t the USPS be serving the citizens of America, who by-and-large hate junk mail as much as I do, instead of working to keep the junk mailers in business?
If they really were concerned about the environment, they’d stop the FLOOD of junk mail that fills mailboxes across America every day!
Now that I’m back in Asia, I’m no longer getting the junk mail that I was getting while living in Arlington, Texas (Dad is getting it, and sifting through it looking for anything REAL, for me! Thanks Dad!) However, I still am concerned about this but I have no idea what can be done to fight this.
Any ideas?
Hi! I'm Steve Webel and this is my blog. Thanks for stopping by!
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Only 2.4% Are you kidding me? That is crazy!
It’s a staggering statistic that is thrown out there by the USPS as a POSITIVE! Is there any doubt they are trying to do a snow-job on the US public?
No doubt.
As email replaces the traditional letter to distant relatives, junk mail, bills, and catalogs are about the only things keeping the USPS in business. So, why would they do anything to cut back on junk mail? In fact, they are clearly trying to increase junk mail by touting the 1200% return on junk mail marketing costs.