Best Green Direct Mail Award
Sponsored by Royal Mail
Being at the heart of UK communities we understand the need to connect to the issues that matter to them. For this reason we are committed to become carbon neutral by 2015 and help our customers do business in an environmentally sustainable and competitive way.
We are doing this in two ways:
Reducing our carbon footprint
We’ve implemented a Carbon Management Programme to identify ways to cut our CO2 emissions. We’re reducing the amount of energy consumed by our vehicles and buildings, as well as addressing the type and source of the energy we use.
We’ve installed special technology in around 8,000 vans and trucks to help us operate them more efficiently. This will potentially reduce our carbon output by 7,000 tonnes and save 2.5 million litres of diesel in 2009. We’ve also invested in a fleet of more than 300 double-deck trailers. These can transport 50% more mail than conventional trucks and therefore cut down on mileage.
We have 2,500 buildings around the UK – and we’re working alongside the Carbon Trust to cut down energy consumption and the amount of CO2 they produce. Energy efficiency toolkits will be circulated to all of our managers, and all of our mainland UK sites now use 100% renewable energy.
99.7% of our old uniforms are reused or recycled. Unbranded items are sent abroad for reuse, and others are recycled. Branded garments such as shirts are shredded into rags and reused in industry, for example as cleaning cloths or padding for vehicle interiors.
Helping our customers reduce their environmental impact
Royal Mail, ISBA, Acxiom and DMA worked in partnership with BSI British Standards to develop a new industry standard to reduce the environmental impact of direct marketing called PAS 2020.
Our Sustainable Mail™ specification has been aligned to PAS 2020 and gives customers guidance on how to prepare their mail to have least environmental impact. Sustainable Mail rewards customers for adopting good environmental practices e.g. using good quality data for targeting, using sustainable resources and materials and ensuring that the items are recyclable.
Our Carbon Neutral Door to Door scheme minimises the environmental impact of Door to Door service. We help customers target their mailing more effectively and help minimise its carbon impact. We also calculate CO2 emissions produced by the mailing and pay the cost to offset these emissions
Simply Drop is a new secure service for consumers to recycle small electrical items and household batteries. An extended trial of Simply Drop is taking place across London from June 2009 and customer will be able to see the value of items online and either be reimbursed for recycling or can donate the money to a choice of 5 charities. Royal Mail also donates money to our charity partner Barnardo’s for items that have been sent to us but have not been registered online.
Adam Crozier - CEO, Royal Mail