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3 achievable strategies for a greener company
For many modern business owners, eco-friendly standards have become part of daily operations. Paper-based procedures and policies have undergone significant revision in light of the drive for a greener workplace. However, there are numerous challenges that companies must tackle when deciding to go green with their printing and direct mail strategies.
In spite of the claim to the contrary, very few offices can go paperless completely. Especially if a company depends on direct mail marketing to any extent, it's not advisable to eliminate paper from the workplace entirely. Yet, there are numerous strategies that help companies participate in a more sustainable business world.
- Take it to the Web
When business owners become clients of a print shop, they may use several communication channels: telephone, email, SMS or direct mail. However, one of the most effective avenues that businesses should take advantage of is a Web-to-print storefront, wrote Connect Magazine. There are a number of reasons to invest in this technology if the print shop makes it available.
First, the marketing or sales representative from the company has unique access to an online portal that is available 24/7. A Web-to-print storefront also eliminates much of the paper-based back-and-forth communication between a business and the print shop. Because it's a digital resource, marketers can input an order, generate a quote immediately and look at proofs before placing the order. Businesses can create templates, catalogs and products that are maintained in the online platform.
As a result, companies use less paper because they don't necessarily keep a ton of inventory on hand. An added benefit of this strategy is that business owners can avoid wastage as their old marketing designs and materials go out of date. - Reassess packaging
Beyond the marketing materials that companies send through the mail, it's important to think about what products are used as packaging. In most cases, containers are made up of petroleum-based compounds. However, WhatTheyThink? explained packaging markets are beginning to integrate more sustainable materials. In fact, the industry uses over 60 percent of all bioplastics made in the world.
As most packaging is a derivative of fossil fuels, it's influenced by the fluctuations in oil prices and consumption, as well as resource availability. Bioplastics, on the other hand, are generally independent of the complicated petroleum market. Depending on how biorenewable development progresses, business owners may have more earth-friendly options for delivering their direct mail marketing items. - Contact management
According to Connect Magazine, having a clean client or customer database is critical for a green direct mail campaign. Bulk mailing software plays a central role in this effort because it ensures all contact information is valid and verified against the most recent data. Undeliverable mail or duplicates are not only not environmentally friendly, but also a waste of financial resources and time.
An eco-friendly office is attainable, but it requires careful consideration of what alternatives are available.
