Large mailers recommend the following tactics to make your direct mail more eco-friendly: • Decrease the thickness of your paper stock • Cut down on the number of elements in a mail package • Reduce the trim size • Use recycled or “ground wood” paper rather than virgin stock • Use soy – or water-based inks when possible • Make a continuous effort to keep your lists clean • Explore printing processes that produce less waste, such as rotogravure • Utilize Print-on-Demand technology • Send customers online for follow-up information • Send out large print pieces on CD • Print marketing materials on both sides of the paper • Use chlorine-free paper • Ask customers to specify how frequently they would like to hear from you • Choose vendors who use renewable energy, or urge current customers to do so • Experiment with CDs, PDF files and other formats that require less paper and packaging Source – Deliver Magazine.com