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How Green is Your Marketing Department? 10 Ways to Reduce the Impact on the Environment

The Greenhouse Updated

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Within the last couple of years, numerous ‘green alternatives’ have emerged as well as convincing information about how unsustainable our industry and lifestyles are. As designers we are in a position and have a responsibility to influence decisions that reduce the impact of unsustainable business practices.

The following green alternatives are just a few of the alternatives we have collected. See more at the Greenhouse on our website.

1. Paper
   
2. Printing
   
3. The Internet
   
4. Packaging
   
5. Carbon Offsets
   
6. Junk mail
   
7. Vinyl Alternatives
   
8. T-Shirts
   
9. Website Hosting
   
10. Trade Shows

1. Paper: According to the American Forest and Paper Association, the average American uses more than 748 pounds of paper per year, and waste paper is America’s single largest export by weight. Paper manufacturing alone is the third largest use of fossil fuels worldwide and the single largest industrial use of water per pound of finished product. Printing inks and toner are the second largest uses of carbon black, which is primarily manufactured by the incomplete combustion of oil.¹

Learn more about recycled and non-tree papers at the Guide to Earth-Friendly Papers. This easy-to-use guide is a practical tool that makes it simple to change old paper-buying habits.

2. Printing: There are dozens of printers now that are certified by The Forest Stewardship Council as sustainable. Click here to see a list of printers by state [PDF].

3. The Internet: While most organizations don’t view their websites and e-mail marketing campaigns as environmentally beneficial, they can greatly reduce the amount of printed material each year. On-demand printing is a great way to reduce printing as well as make documents easier to find. There are also numerous software companies purporting the ‘paperless office’ such as SpringCM and Document Locator.

Also according to MarketingSherpa, e-mail marketing provides the highest ROI of all B to B marketing initiatives, except Search Engine Optimization. A great e-mail management tool is Campaign Monitor.

4. Packaging: learn more about sustainable packaging at The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a group inspired by cradle to cradle principles and dedicated to creating a more robust environmental vision for packaging. Or hire a consultant such as James Ross Consulting to obtain advice on making your packaging more sustainable.

5. Carbon Offsets: If it's difficult for your company to adopt green business practices, you can offset your carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets. Here are some companies who sell them: CabonFund.org and My Carbon Debt.

Also, you can measure your carbon impact reduction efforts with this footprint calculator at Energy Race.

6. Junk mail: Many of us in marketing are guilty of producing junk mail! Green Dimes is a mailing list removal service that will reduce junk mail by 75% - 90% and have a tree planted monthly for you.

7. Vinyl Alternatives: According to the EPA and other organizations, Vinyl is one of the most toxic substances in widespread use today. Vinyl is frequently used in signs, banners, awnings etc. for marketing programs. There is a new alternative about to be released called Eco-Flexx. Learn more at Eco-flexx.com.

8. T-Shirts: Yes now you can have organic t-shirts made without sweatshop labor! Check out TSDesigns.

9. Website Hosting: Solar powered web hosting? Yes! Check out Sustainable Hosting.

10. Trade Shows: As with everything else, buying something used is a good way to reduce the amount of resources needed to create what you purchase, including trade show booths. Learn more at SecondLife Exhibits.

1. AIGA: Print Design and Environmental Responsibility

GREENHOUSE
For more green marketing tips see the Greenhouse.

Bartlett Interactive specializes in visual communications for emerging businesses. Capabilities include: Internet strategy, web design and development, branding, corporate identity systems and print collateral materials. Learn more.