Free E-Cards Help Save Money and the Environment this Christmas
Every Christmas
businesses send millions of cards to
customers, suppliers and business partners;
yet they could be helping the environment
and saving money by switching to online
e-cards.
Three-quarters of a billion Christmas cards
are likely to be sent this year, each with
an associated financial and environmental
cost. Sustainable business experts Envirowise
are urging UK companies to switch to sending
their season's greetings electronically -
and with the festivities fast approaching,
have given them the way to do so.
Financial cost, uncertainty over delivery times, environmental
awareness; these are all good reasons to
switch to electronic greetings cards this
festive season, and Envirowise are
giving UK businesses a free helping hand.
Their online e-Christmas card campaign is now in its third
year; last year subscribers sent more than
54,800 e-cards, saving over a tonne of
paper, not to mention the environmental
costs of production and delivery. The goal
this year is for even more savings - for the
environment as much as for business.
"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 million1 on stamps
alone," commented programme director Dr
Martin Gibson.
"What's more difficult to put a price on are the savings that will
be made before and after - in the actual
production of the card and what at the end
of its life in January. Recycling is
obviously a recognisable component of our
environmentally aware culture, but why not
cut out the middle man? By not sending
printed cards, we won't have to deal with
the consequences."
Economic and environmental pressures combine to suggest an
etiquette for Christmas cards in the
workplace. 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 eChristmas
card campaign is a good place to start for a
sustainable Christmas."
Businesses can register online to use the free e-Christmas cards at
www.envirowise.gov.uk/e-card. Templates
can be personalised by choosing from twelve
separate designs, and adding a company logo
and personal message.
| 
