News Release
JE06 / 9 January 2009
ROYAL MAIL ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR LOWER COST MAIL PRODUCT TO BENEFIT
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS ADVERTISERS
Royal Mail plans to launch a new bulk mail service from April 2009 that
offers a lower price tariff for direct mail that meets newly developed
environmental standards.
The Sustainable Mail™ product, which is subject to Postcomm consultation*,
will be priced up to 4.7 per cent lower than standard Mailsort prices**
and will be available to companies that meet criteria based on three key
environmental needs – improved sustainability, minimised waste and
increased recyclability.
Sustainable Mail™, along with the Responsible Mail™ product offered by
Royal Mail’s Wholesale division, will be the first services available to
advertisers that are consistent with the forthcoming BSI standard for
Environmental Performance for Direct Marketing. The standard, PAS 2020,
will be announced later in January with the backing of Royal Mail as well
as others including the Direct Marketing Association, Acxiom and
advertising organisation ISBA.
To qualify for the Sustainable Mail™ product, mailers must meet the
criteria for two specifications – entry level, where prices of up to two
per cent below normal Mailsort tariffs are available, or intermediate
level where this increases to 4.7 per cent.
Matthew Neilson, Head of Environmental Solutions at Royal Mail, said:
“Royal Mail is committed to helping businesses improve the environmental
performance of their direct mail campaigns and in April we plan to launch a
new product that will help firms reduce waste, improve recyclability and
the sustainability of their direct mail activities while saving them money.
“We recognise that a more environmentally friendly approach could raise
production costs and that is why Sustainable Mail provides a price
incentive.”
He added: “Sustainable Mail™ is focussing on direct mail and will support
the introduction of PAS 2020. We are also exploring other environmental
opportunities for our mail services.”
The criteria to qualify for Sustainable Mail™ at the entry level will
include:
- The use of recycled fibre from recovered waste paper and/or virgin
fibre sourced from a Defra approved forest certification scheme in
all paper products
- The adoption of good data practices such as the development and
maintenance of an internal suppression file as well as the checking
of customer and prospects against the Mailing Preference Service
The recyclability of all paper elements of the mailing, including
window and padded envelopes
- A statement or logo, such as Recycle Now, on the outside of the
mailing to encourage recycling of the item
Included in the intermediate level specification are requirements that:
- All printers, mailing houses or in-house mailing facilities used to
produce a mailing must have an environmental management system
conforming to BS EN ISO 14001
- No ultraviolet varnish finishes or rubber-based adhesives are used
in the mailing
- Each item must give clear information as to how the addressee can
register to unsubscribe from receiving information about any or all
of a sending company’s products for one year
The full Sustainable Mail™ specification is available at
www.royalmail.com/sustainablemail
The plans announced by Royal Mail’s retail arm follows the September launch
by Royal Mail’s Wholesale division of a new service that gives its
customers a price reduction for direct mail campaigns that meet criteria
designed to reduce their environmental impact.
Royal Mail Wholesale has stated that it is amending the criteria to ensure
Responsible Mail is consistent with the new PAS 2020 standard.
Further information is available at www.royalmailwholesale.com
Issued by Royal Mail: 020 7259 2468 (24 hours)
148 Old Street
London EC1V 9HQ