ith direct mail being one of our core services, that means our clients use a lot of paper... much of which (by industry standards) is discarded and likely ends up in a landfill.
In order to help offset the environmental impact of the business we're in and will continue to be in for the foreseeable future, we have created an innovative initiative focused on education and advocacy related to paper stewardship.
What is PaperWatch™?
This initiative is based on the following principles:
Reduce
- We encourage our staff to reduce paper usage by not always printing documents and by using both sides of a sheet.
- When we purchase new printers, we select equipment that enables duplex printing.
- We encourage our clients to mail smarter and more targeted. We provide services to assist clients in utilizing data more strategically, thereby reducing the volume of unwanted direct mail. For our nonprofit clients, we have a small tool to help. Click here to learn about DonorMetrix™
- We provide services to integrate our clients' direct mail initiatives with non-paper channels such as phone and online communications.
Reuse
- We encourage staff to reuse paper - printing on the back of other sheets.
- We encourage our clients to tell their donors to "pass it on to a friend" when they receive a piece of mail they are not interested in or have used already.
Recycle
- Touchworks pays for curbside recycling at the residence of our employees.
- We encourage clients to encourage donors and customers to recycle direct mail packages after use.
- We encourage our clients to use recycled paper products.
Rethink
How Touchworks is Using its Assets to Create Paper Change
Our Power
- We only recommend suppliers who use FSC paper.
- We encourage employees and suppliers to support nonprofit organizations that are involved in environmental stewardship.
Our Profit
- We financially support environmental issues related to paper stewardship.
Our People
- We engage in employee volunteer activities that help the environment.
Our Premises
- We are a virtual company without common office space. That means no daily commute for staff, thereby reducing our collective environmental footprint.
- We car pool to meetings and group activities whenever possible.
- The company pays for curbside recycling at our employees' residence.
Our Product
- We will be providing educational sessions about paper stewardship for our clients in the near future. Stay tuned.
Our Packaging
- We encourage clients to be sensitive about excess packaging - i.e. don't use boxes as carrier envelopes unless necessary and that FSC paper is used for all printed materials.
Our Promotion
- Our website helps to educate visitors about paper issues and to direct them to trusted resources on paper stewardship and to suppliers who use FSC products.
We're inviting you to become a Paperwatcher by spreading the word and learning from others. Let the world know what your organization is doing to offset your carbon footprint and be inspired by the stories from other like minded people. Stay tuned for other initiatives launched by Touchworks to help the public become more in tune to environmental stewardship.
