Yes – it is that time of year again! As retailers across the North East start laying out the Christmas cards, Envirowise urges businesses across the region to save time and money by sending their greetings online.
With a staggering 744 million Christmas cards delivered by the Royal Mail last year, Envirowise is calling on companies in the North East to help cut the region's Christmas card 'mountain' by sending their seasons greetings electronically.
Envirowise's 2006 Christmas card campaign comes as statistics reveal that one billion1 Christmas cards, weighing 20,000 tonnes2, will end up as waste this Christmas. And many of these cards could still be with us 30 years on as there is evidence landfill sites can actually 'preserve' paper items, rather than letting them degrade.3
Businesses wishing to make use of the free e-cards will be able to choose from a selection of 10 exclusive designs which can each be personalised by selecting a preferred image and then adding a company logo and message. Companies are urged to get their requests in early and to register before the end of November deadline to avoid disappointment.
Envirowise Regional Manager for the North East, Guy Bashford, explained: "We understand how important it is for firms in the region to acknowledge their customers and suppliers at this time of year. However, an enormous amount of paper waste is generated over this period and we wanted to give companies easy access to something they could use to help cut down on seasonal waste – without dampening the Christmas spirit!"
"The success of last year's Envirowise Christmas card campaign has indicated that businesses are in favour of sending their seasonal greetings online – suggesting a more general shift towards electronic cards could be on the horizon. As many as 23,500 e-cards were sent via our website last year."
Businesses wishing to use the Envirowise Christmas e-card system should register on Envirowise's Christmas card page by the end of November. The e-cards will then be sent to nominated recipients at the beginning of December. The system is free to use, but businesses are encouraged to make a donation to a charity of their choice.
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Notes to Editors
- Figures sourced from Defra.
- Assuming the average weight of a Christmas card to be 20g.
- Evidence from 'Project Garbage', a pioneering archaeology project that excavated landfill sites in the US, suggests that most materials do not biodegrade normally in landfill, largely due to a lack of oxygen and water. Amongst a wide range of items, the project unearthed 30 year old newspapers that were perfectly legible and showed no signs of biodegradation.
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Harrison Cowley. Media Contacts: Rod Dennis or Lucy Rickett at Harrison Cowley on 0117 929 2311
About Envirowise
Envirowise delivers a valuable programme of confidential advice to UK businesses. This advice enables businesses to improve profitability and reduce environmental impact.
Independent, practical and proven guidance is available through the Envirowise Advice Line, information resources and on site visits* delivered by a national team of expert advisors. Each solution is driven by the specific needs of individual firms to genuinely improve their business practices, profitability and competitiveness. Since 1994, Envirowise has helped UK industry save over £1 billion.
The Envirowise programme is available to any UK business, completely free of charge. For more information visit Envirowise's website or call 0800 585 794.
* Please note that different services are available in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact our Advice Line on 0800 585 794 for more information on whether you are eligible for a site visit.