27 May 2009 - A study into the paper use of 20 major UK companies shows that while some financial companies and publishers of magazines have drastically reduced their paper consumption, many bulk mailers are still unwilling to even discuss paper waste.
The research, conducted by Shrink, a coalition of environmental organisations, reveals that of the 20 companies that were challenged to cut their paper consumption only financial company Standard Life deserves a gold medal’. Bottom of the heap are catalogue retailers Boden and Freemans.
Shrink co-ordinator Mandy Haggith said: "Our results show that fewer than half of our target companies are on the right track. Standard Life is setting a great 'standard', cutting its paper use by 20% since 2006 and both saving money and reducing their carbon footprint from their paper use. But most of the companies have failed to take up the challenge. The catalogue sector is particularly wasteful."
The results show that magazine publishers Haymarket and IPC Media are performing well, having taken steps to reduce unsold magazines and increase printing efficiency. Also much of the financial sector is taking paper efficiency seriously. But supermarkets and catalogue companies perform "woefully", according to Mandy Haggith: "Catalogue retailers and supermarkets need to wake up and take action to tackle the most pointless and unpopular forms of paper waste: packaging and junk mail."
Robert Rijkhoff of the Stop Junk Mail campaign said: "The Shrink project confirms what many householders know all too well. There are still many companies out there that simply aim to post as much unsolicited mail through our letterboxes as possible. The example of Standard Life shows just how outdated and senseless this practice is. Let's hope Shrink's findings will encourage companies such as Boden and Freemans to clean up their act."
Rachel Turner of Standard Life said: "Consuming less paper makes commercial as well as environmental sense. Our reduction is a result of the enthusiastic support of our people who have joined 'Green Teams' all over our business, changing print processes and the way we design documents. However, it's by encouraging our customers and shareholders to deal with us on-line that has had the most significant impact. We've found that these groups are extremely keen to reduce the volume of mail they get on their doormats and so we're working with them to change the way we keep in touch."
The UK consumes more than four times as much paper per person as the world average. Shrink would like to see a drastic reduction in the use of paper for things items that "we neither want nor need", such as excessive packaging and junk mail. Shrink co-ordinator Mandy Haggith recently published the book 'Paper Trails, from Trees to Trash', which focuses on the pollution, forest destruction and human rights abuses linked to the paper industry.
Shrink targeted a range of companies that are big paper consumers and/or have strong corporate responsibility policies. Over the course of a year they were repeatedly contacted and given advice and guides on the benefits of saving paper waste.
The scores are a combination of marks assigned for three criteria:
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Shrinks report, 'Winners and Wasters in the Paper Chase', can be downloaded as a PDF (1023Kb) here.