A festive revolution is upon us – e-cards are the new Christmas card with Envirowise.
Three-quarters of a billion Christmas cards are likely to be sent this year, each with an associated financial and environmental cost. But once the festivities are over the legacy continues, as the majority of discarded cards will still be in landfill 30 years from now.
Free help is at hand as Envirowise launches its third annual Christmas e-card campaign, and urges businesses to switch to sending their season's greetings electronically. In addition to environmental awareness, financial cost and uncertainty over delivery times provide solid business reasons to make the switch. Last year Envirowise subscribers sent more than 54,500 e-cards – saving over a tonne of paper, as well as cutting the environmental costs of production and delivery. The goal this year is for even more savings – for the environment as much as for business.
Martin Gibson, Envirowise Programme Director said: "If each of the 4.3 million private sector enterprises in the UK sends just one Christmas card to clients or customers this year, that represents expenditure of over £1 million on stamps alone."
Economic and environmental pressures combine to suggest an etiquette for Christmas cards in the workplace, but with nearly 20% of businesses sending at least 250 cards every year, the costs are huge. John Holbrow, Environment Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses comments: "It is obviously important for companies to acknowledge their customers and suppliers at this time of year. But what we also need to acknowledge is the cost to business and the environment. With ever increasing costs for businesses, they should look to make savings where they can. Why not do both, sustaining profits and the environment. The Envirowise Christmas e-card is a good place to start for a sustainable Christmas."
Businesses can review this year's e-cards at www.envirowise.gov.uk/e-card. To ensure you don't miss them next year, sign up online now to be kept in touch with latest developments at www.envirowise.gov.uk/register.
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