For a marketing approach, direct mailings have an unbelievable environmental impact. Excel, a Paris direct marketing agency within the TBWA, is working on a plan for greener mailers. Their "Le Mailing Vert" service focuses on four principles, according to a report from Springwise:

1. To protect the environment, such as by purifying all waste water and using vegetable-based inks, solvents and cleaning agents.
   
2. To preserve raw materials and protect natural resources through the use of paper that's either recycled or derived from sustainably managed forests.
   
3. To track waste and minimize energy consumption, such as by optimizing transportation networks.
   
4. To measure and offset the ecological impact of each phase of the direct-mailing process.

In order to follow through on these commitments, Excel is asking its partners to help out: envelope maker Manuparis, Vincent Printers, Groupe Moselle Vieillemard printers and Diffusion Plus (a direct marketing/sales logistics firm) have all agreed to adhere to the four principles.

Excel is already reporting that one major organization is on board with Le Mailing Vert: Frères des Hommes. The direct marketing firm will be specifically marketing this program to non-profits.

Of course, we'd like to eliminate all those extra mailers in our mailboxes, but Le Mailing Vert is a step in the right direction.

Image — Excel