Subscribe to our newsletter

Green Tip of the Moment

Ditch your old kettle and invest in an energy and water saving one! Introducing the Eco Kettle! Only boil what you need. For more information, or to buy online, visit their website: http://www.neco.com.au/product.asp?pID=1125&cID=77&c=192458

Feed Your INBOX, not your LETTER BOX!

19 May 2009, Author: ~Karen~

Online Payments & Promotional Material

Every day, someone somewhere is getting a bill delivered into their hot little hands. But have you ever thought about the environmental impact and cost of getting your bills delivered to you at home, your PO Box or at work? For the majority of us, the answer is likely to be \"No\". By reading this, you will be armed with some knowledge that you can easily turn into action that will undoubtedly contribute to making a positive, and helpful impact on our environment. The best part is, it is SO SIMPLE!

The way we\'ve always done it - the way our brains have been programmed:

Postman delivers mail à We open it, throw away the envelope and (in some cases the content, too) à We complete a form, or indicate payment option, or enclose whatever needs to be returned à purchase stamp à purchase envelope(s) à Possibly drive to Australia Post/road side mail box/shopping centre to put in the post.

Results: Expense for production of envelope, stamps, inks, plastics, printing, cost of fuel (transporting the mail), affects of fuel in transporting mail on the environment, general waste (not everyone remembers to recycle their paper), time consuming putting it all together and making sure it gets sent, expensive (over time).

The way we can do it - the way we should be thinking:

Save natural resources - as well as late fees - by enrolling in easy, online bill-paying options with your:

1) Bank (Credit Cards etc)
2) Electricity, Gas - (all utility Providers)
3) Mobile Phone Providers
4) Home and Internet Providers
5) Car Payments, Insurance, Road-side-assist Providers
6) Loyalty Club Memberships

...just to name a few...

In fact, these days it seems that almost any company that sends you a monthly bill through the mail probably has online payment options. TAKE ACTION! Why not check out their website OR better still, call the company and ask if this method can be set up?

Don\'t limit your change of behaviour to JUST bill-paying options!

Remember, there are plenty of other places that you\'re signed up with that send you information in the mail from time to time. A good place to start is - check your wallet! We all keep loyalty cards in there that we don\'t use on a regular basis. For example -- a fashion store - the next time you receive something in the post from them, ask them to cancel mail subscription and switch it over to e-mail subscription only. If they don\'t have e-mail subscriptions set up at the time, perhaps submit a \'customer feedback\' form or write a letter to express your interest in this. Every little bit helps! A further little \'mental note to self\' for future sign-ups, always just include your e-mail address on the form as opposed to giving the company an option to post or email.

Go Online - Go Green!

Paperless billing and promotional material sent via e-mail, not only saves trees; it also eliminates the fossil fuel (CO₂ emissions) needed to get all those dozens and dozens of billing envelopes/reply paid envelopes from them to you and back again. Plus, you\'ll save money on stamps, which can really add up over time. That will cut down on inks and adhesives needed by the Post Office. It all adds up, literally!

Take Action - Starting Now

1) Spend 10 minutes writing down all the companies you receive mail from
2) Check the company websites, send them an e-mail with your preferred method of contact (online)
3) Where possible, add in company emails to your Address Book so they will not get filtered into SPAM folders when it is time for you to receive your next bill or promotional material
4) Pat yourself on the back and know that you\'ve just done something really amazing to help our environment - and your wallet too.