Best Wishes for the New Year to all our clients and suppliers
Going Green
At DM Print we have always been mindful of the effects that direct mail activities have on our surroundings. We are fully aware that one of our immediate challenges is to reduce our impact on the environment whist ensuring that direct mail remains an important and viable method of communication for our clients.
Of utmost importance, of course, is ensuring that the data used for every mailing is cleansed to remove, for example, deceased and gone-away records, this reduces waste at source, by minimising the actual print and production of poorly targeted mail.
Equally important, is the need to ensure that any paper-based communications originate and are supplied from, managed, sustainable sources; sources which ensure that we are not contributing to global forest destruction.
In 2008, we worked very hard to achieve FSC and PEFC accreditation. This means that any pack that you buy and print through DM Print can carry the FSC and/or PEFC logo. The addition of these logos to your printed communications proves to your audience that both you and your supply chain are committed to green, sustainable, forestry practices.
“The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples.
Link: www.fsc-uk.org
“The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification.
Link: www.pefc.co.uk
We also constantly monitor the market for new green initiatives.
Royal Mail is part way through launching two products which encourage the use of sustainable and responsible direct marketing practices by offering a reduction in postage for packs that meet certain environmental standards.
Responsible Mail ™, has been launched to Down Stream Access providers. (Details are still being finalised.)
Sustainable Mail ™, is due to be launched in April and will exist alongside the current Mail Sort products.
In essence, by offering a financial incentive, Royal Mail intend both of these initiatives to encourage direct mail providers to think carefully – in terms of environmental impact – about the materials and formats being used from the creative stage of a project, right through to data cleansing, production methods and treatment of gone-aways at the end of a project. This is to try to ensure best practice in terms of environmental sustainability throughout the entire direct mail project, whilst maintaining the ROI of a direct mail programme.
Both of the Royal Mail initiatives are linked to and consistent with PAS 2020, which was in development during 2008.
On January 21st the Direct Marketing Environmental Performance Specification PAS 2020 is officially being launched. DM Print was fortunate enough to have been in a position to comment on this draft BSI specification and will therefore be present on 21st. After the launch we will be able to advise our clients more fully about the details of the Royal Mail initiatives and to give further advice on the outcome and ramifications of PAS 2020.