The cost of mail
Posted: 13.02.09 | Created by: Do Something
Australian businesses spend hundreds of millions of dollars posting business-related paper documents. We created and posted more than 800 million items of direct mail, advertising and catalogues in 2008 alone. It would have been cheaper and far better for the planet to send much of this by email.
More paper mail is being sent every year
- Australia Post handled around 5.6 billion mail items in 2008. 1.6% up from 2007 (1)
- 4.2 billion of these were business-related mail items (2) such as bills, statements and direct mail advertising.
What exactly is direct mail advertising, also known as "junk mail"?
There are two types:
Addressed mail
- this is advertising material that is sent from companies with your name and address on it. This is delivered by Australia Post
- companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year on this type of advertising
- moving it to email is a major money saver for any business.
Learn how to reduce the cost and impact of your addressed direct mail.
Unaddressed mail
- this is advertising material that is delivered to your house without your name on it
- this includes supermarket and department store catalogues, ads for tradespeople, real estate agents, etc
- many people find this kind of advertising very useful, but some people don't want it.
Want to say no to unaddressed "junk mail"?
When it comes to stopping the delivery of unaddressed advertising material, you can get a free "no advertising material" sticker from the Australian Catalogue Association. Click here for instructions on how to get your free sticker.
The Australian Catalogue Association and its members have always taken a proactive and positive stance on recognising 'no advertising material' or 'no junk mail' signs. They recognise that it makes no sense to give advertising material to those people who don't want it.
Their industry policy states that no advertising material should be delivered to mail boxes showing such stickers. If you have one and still receive advertising material, you can report the breach to the ACA on their Hotline:1800 676 136. The industry takes such breaches seriously and do act on reports.
Want to say no to addressed "junk mail"?
When it comes to stopping the delivery of addressed mail advertising, you can sign up to the 'Do Not Mail' program by clicking here.
References:
(1) Australia Post Annual Report
(2) Australian Financial Review 29/07/09, 'Paper cut could hurt Australia Post's bottom line', pg. 3.
Read some great tips on how to reduce your paper usage.
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