Direct Mail

Lighten up your direct mail footprint

How forest management helps us create a healthier planet
This story is part of our how-to series about creating direct mail that works. View other stories in the series or subscribe to Pop from Sappi today to receive an email when we post more.

With our world working to mitigate the ongoing climate crisis, concern for the environment is at an all-time high.

More companies than ever are making efforts to conserve global ecosystems. Because of this, many consumers want to be certain that the brands they support share the same interests in sustaining our planet. And so comes the important question: can we still create striking, impactful direct mail campaigns while minimizing environmental impact?

The answer is yes, and the key? Sustainable forest management.

Sometimes, paper companies’ relationship with forests can be hard to understand. And we get it, making paper requires trees, which means fewer trees in forests, right? In reality, our suppliers work to sustain forests so they can continue thriving for generations to come. Harvesting techniques, such as restoration thinning and canopy opening, actually help forests regenerate more quickly and, in turn, make them less susceptible to forest fires, diseases, and insect infestations.

It’s important for consumers to know that the brands they receive mail from are actively taking steps toward greater sustainability. By making sound environmental decisions part of their business practice, more companies can stand out while taking a stand for a critical global issue. One major way that other paper and packaging companies can move in a more eco-conscious direction is by ensuring that the forests they source from are third-party certified, a tool that provides independent verification of responsible management.

  • 100% of Sappi North America’s US-based mills are triple-CoC certified under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®-C014955), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) program, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/29-31-10).)
  • Only 10% of the world’s forests are certified to a credible standard. (Sappi)

Taking these steps brings us that much closer to having responsible business practices that utilize renewable materials. When brands choose to print on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests and source from certified suppliers, their actions help slow the pace of deforestation and forest degradation—and contribute to the health of our planet in the long run. Putting their purchasing power to work also brings us one step closer to eliminating the market for unsustainable and illegal wood.

  • 40% of all industrial wood traded globally is used by the pulp and paper industry, which includes office and catalog paper, glossy paper, tissue and paper-based packaging (World Wildlife Foundation)
  • According to the World Wildlife Foundation, companies can play a key role in driving responsible forestry through their paper choices.

While planning your next direct mail campaign, remember that beautiful graphics and high-quality paper doesn’t have to come at the detriment of our planet. By sourcing from certified suppliers, know that you’re supporting responsible forestry while positively impacting your customers.