The Environment

NAMMU Salutes 2008 Environmental Award Winners

Toronto, November 5…..The NAMMU Awards annually celebrate excellence in marketing through the mail, and the 2008 NAMMU Environmental Awards further distinguish leadership, innovation, and results achieved in making the mailing industry as environmentally friendly as possible. At the 2008NAMMU Awards gala held November 4 at the Design Exchange, NAMMU President, Kathleen Rowe, presented awards to three organizations whose accomplishments met rigorous environmental criteria.

The 2008 NAMMU Environmental Award winner for INNOVATION:

Pitney Bowes - The Environmental Impact of Mail: A Baseline.

Sustainability is intrinsic to all Pitney Bowes’ corporate policies, programs and decision-making – and to the way they measure the organization’s success. As part of this global industry leadership, Pitney Bowes developed in June 2008, The Environmental Impact of Mail: A Baseline, to help educate and establish best practices for sustainability within the mailing industry. This thought leadership initiative offers the mailing industry a baseline assessment that pinpoints high carbon emitting areas in the life- cycle of mail - and drives the focus for practical solutions to reduce or eliminate. With the tabling of this important study, and practical initiatives such as Ecowise, based on this research, Pitney Bowes sets the benchmark and a foundation for the entire industry to follow. This is the second NAMMU Environmental Award for Pitney Bowes, the first in 2007 for Best Management Practices.

The 2008 NAMMU Environmental Award winner for MAIL CAMPAIGN – BTB:

Pollution Probe – 2008 Clean Air Commute, agency: Rivet

To fulfill their own environmental promise, this Pollution Probe mail campaign used the gold standard: FSC certified paper, as well as vegetable-based inks, recycled and distilled press chemicals, and targeted selectively to avoid waste. The annual week-long Clean Air Commute is a competition among GTA workplaces to make the biggest environmental impact. To inspire more commuters to participate, companies were urged to fill their ranks with “Clean Air Action Heroes” through engaging workplace kits. Using vivid, comic-style graphics, this 2008 campaign exceeded all expectations – a summer blockbuster.

The 2008 NAMMU Environmental Award winner for MAIL CAMPAIGN – BTC:

My Visa Rewards Plus Rewards Catalogue for Vancity Savings Credit Union, agency:

Carlson Marketing Canada

Caring for the environment is part of everything Vancity does, from the Vancity EnviroFund that grants funds to local green projects, to eco-friendly catalogue merchandise and promo items. Every step of the My Visa Rewards Plus Rewards Catalogue had to be consistent with the company’s sustainability practices: limited product selection to keep it small and drive consumers online; energy-saving tips; and encouragement to use points toward travel, local experiences, gifts or the

charity of one’s choice. All this in vegetable ink on FSC certified paper. The print catalogue succeeded in driving an all-time high increase in web visits, reward redemptions and registrations, with as small an environmental impact as humanly possible.

In her remarks, the President congratulated the 2008 winners and noted “The NAMMU Environmental Awards are for organizations that are setting new standards for smart environmental practices in the mailing industry.” She also particularly acknowledged the contribution of Dave Douglas, President, of VisionQuest  Environmental Strategies Corp., a national leader in environmental sustainability support, to the development and integrity of these awards.

TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2008

NAMMU Leads Consumer Awareness Program on ECO-Friendly Initiatives

Toronto, June 16, 2008….Following the recent Board of Directors’ meeting, NAMMU president, Kathleen Rowe, today reiterated the strong commitment the Association has to the promotion and consumer awareness of environmentally friendly mail. Pro consumer choice, the Board of Directors realized some time ago that myths can circulate and be simply accepted by consumers as credible, if the real facts are not realistically and consistently presented.

“Our first step in addressing consumer awareness was the launch of the NAMMU Environmental Awards” said Kathleen Rowe. “This one act focused the mailing industry’s attention on the necessity of publicizing and educating their customers about the environmentally friendly choices available for their mailings, as well as explaining the processes, practices and innovations that keep NAMMU supplier-based businesses in the forefront of eco-friendly developments” noted Rowe. The launch of the NAMMU Environmental Awards was keyed to a series of member-focused presentations and updates at the Chapter level, on “closing the loop” initiatives with consumers about recycling, as well as corporate best practices in promoting and purchasing environmentally-friendly products.

According to Rowe, the next step is the logical progression to proactive consumer awareness. “We have the products, we have the know-how, it is time to raise the positive profile of these initiatives in a meaningful way to the general public. Along with the publicity surrounding the 2008 Environmental Awards, the Association will continue to feature this year member-focused education on corporate best practices and options, and introduce the NAMMU logo to consumers as the symbol of environmentally friendly behavior and choices in mail campaigns.” The Association is committed to ensuring the consumer has the right information to make an informed choice.

2007 NAMMU Environmental Award Winners (click here)

Media Contact: Tel 416-977-3703  media@nammu.org