Marketers: Take Environmental Responsibility

By Jennifer Spitzer

This morning I listened as President Obama addressed the world about the responsibility we have to each other and our planet to do a better job protecting our environment. Building up to the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, I was appalled by statements from politicians here at home who suggest climate change isn’t a critical issue, and I breathe a sigh of relief knowing the current administration is committed to working with nations around the world to protect the environment.

Corporations, industries and individuals need to take responsibility too. As direct marketers, we have an opportunity to make a significant impact. A few years ago, none of the printers in my vendor mix were FSC Certified. Today I find that printers are taking the initiative on their own, rather than as a client requirement, to join the Forest Stewardship Council.

Paper mills and printers aren’t the only ones who can make a difference. Agencies responsible for developing and managing those print materials in the form of direct mail marketing can also take steps to protect our natural resources.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has a volunteer program called the “Green 15 Marketer Pledge”. The program asks marketing organizations to pledge that they are taking certain steps throughout the direct marketing process to improve their environmental footprint. While some suggestions on the list could be somewhat difficult for a small business to adhere to, there are others I consider “no-brainers” for anyone in our industry.

1. Maintain a Do-Not-Mail file for prospects and customers who do not want direct mail – and actually use it as part of standardized data processing procedures. There’s no sense in mailing to consumers who don’t want the extra paper in their mailbox.

2. Maintain a clean mailing list. While this may seem like such a simple thing, you would be surprised by how many businesses out there are mailing to addresses that have NO chance of being delivered. I once reviewed a client’s mail file and actually found an address field that read “brick house behind the gas station”. Running that through any address standardization software will bump that record off the list. Unfortunately, not everyone processes their mail file properly and guess what… the postal carrier probably doesn’t know which gas station you’re talking about.

3. You can reduce your waste by reducing print order overruns. Talk to your printers and mailshops about making changes that minimize setups and only print what you REALLY need.

There’s more to the pledge than data hygiene. As I read through the list to formalize my company’s commitment, I’m pleased to find that we’re already doing our part in many ways. But, I also see suggestions on the Green 15 I never considered. Starting today we will do even more. No matter what industry you’re in, I hope you will make a voluntary pledge to make a difference too.

*To check out the DMA’s Green 15 Marketer Pledge, go to www.dmaresponsibility.org

**To find out more about the great work of the Forest Stewardship Council, go to www.fscus.org