Easy Green Shop

Easy Green Shop's Environmental Policy & Vision Statement



POSSIBLE INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF PRINCIPLE AREAS


I.  LIST HYGIENE AND DATA MANAGEMENT

Easy Green Shop continually endeavors to manage data and lists in an environmentally responsible manner with a focus on reducing the amount of duplicate, unwanted and undeliverable mail [to both consumers and businesses]. To achieve our goals in this area:

A. We Maintain Suppression Lists
    We maintain in-house do-not-market lists for prospects and customers who do not wish to receive future solicitations from us (as required by DMA's Commitment to Consumer Choice).
    We maintain a more detailed suppression file that enables customers and prospects to opt off our organization's marketing lists on a selective basis, such as by frequency or by category.

B. We Offer Notice & Choice

    We provide periodic notices and opportunities for prospects to opt in or opt out of receiving future marketing contacts from our organization.
    We offer customers a choice to receive communications from our organization electronically.
E. We Test Market Offers
    We test a sample of a list before mailing or marketing to the entire list.    
    We test different versions of advertising and marketing offers, in mail and other media, to select those offers and media combinations that receive the best response.


II. DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND PRINTING IN OUR MAIL, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION MATERIALS

We strive to design and print our advertisements and other communications in an environmentally responsible manner, and we communicate our environmental expectations to our supplier(s).  Wherever feasible, in designing and printing communications, we look at opportunities for source reduction. We also communicate our goals to our suppliers.  To this end:

A. We Reduce the Amount of Waste
    We review periodically direct mail and direct marketing packages and test downsized pieces when and where appropriate.    
    We test and use lighter-weight papers wherever feasible.    
    We adjust trim sizes of our publications and/or collateral in an effort to reduce waste.
    We test and use production methods that reduce print order overruns, waste allowances and in-process waste.
    We include overrun allowances in our contracts and specify that excess inventory be recycled.

B. We Reduce Toxicity of Materials
    We test designs to identify and eliminate any environmentally undesirable elements (such as heavy metals, or non-water-soluble adhesives) in inks, envelopes and mail packages.
    We test designs to eliminate elements that may hinder recycling in our inks, envelopes and mail packages.

C. We Give Preference to Recyclable and/or Reusable Materials
    We routinely survey the marketplace for high recycled content for corrugated boxes and packing materials and/or recyclable or reusable materials.
    We seek to utilize recycled printing and writing paper with post-consumer content (when and where feasible).        
        We seek to utilize recycled paper in most of our printed communications.
    We ensure, where possible, that all packing and packaging materials are made of recyclable (collected locally throughout the country), recycled, reused or reusable materials.
    We establish and publicize packaging guidelines for our suppliers to increase recycled content of their packaging.

D. We Communicate Environmental Principles to Suppliers
    We review supplier companiesí environmental policies and practices, and encourage them to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
        We encourage suppliers to use environmentally sustainable materials, such as
    We work with our mail partners and printers to design products with less environmental impact.
    We give preference to printers that seek to reduce air and water pollution, energy use, and chemical waste in their operations.  We communicate these goals within our organization and to our suppliers.


III. PAPER PROCUREMENT AND CLEAN PRODUCTION

Easy Green Shop recognizes that improving forestry practices is an important component of environmental stewardship and sustainability. We strive to procure, use, and recover paper in a manner that helps to ensure the sustainable use of forests and other natural resources.  In support of this principle:

A. We Research & Understand Our Investment in Paper
    We work to understand the investment our company has in paper.        
        We research actively our own paper and wood supplies to be an informed paper and wood products user.        
        We invest time and resources to understand and address environmental issues associated with paper procurement.
    We assist suppliers in identifying and using sustainably produced sources of wood and paper.
    Our designated buyers have expertise in procuring environmentally preferable paper.
    We meet periodically with groups of paper buyers representing our peers to learn what other paper-using companies and organizations are doing to support responsible paper procurement.
    We partner, meet or dialogue with other companies, environmental groups and/or local community groups to better understand their concerns.

B. We Respect Forest Ecosystems and Biodiversity
    We require that our paper suppliers have made a commitment to implementing sustainable forestry practices that protect forest ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as provide the wood and paper products our company needs.    
    We specify that paper suppliers use third-party, verified traceability or chain-of-custody so that we know the origin of fiber in our paper.    
    If paper suppliers are purchasing pulp or logs from outside their organization, we ensure those sources have made a commitment to the practice of sustainable forestry.
    We ask our paper supplier where our paper comes from before buying it with the intent of not sourcing paper from unsustainably or illegally managed forests.
    We avoid paper from sources that are known to log unsustainably or illegally managed forests.
    We encourage our paper suppliers to identify forests with special ecological or biodiversity values in the regions where they source paper and wood.
    We recognize the importance of maintaining biodiversity and avoid sourcing from rare forest types and areas with high concentrations of rare and endangered species.
    We recognize the importance of maintaining biodiversity and will work with suppliers who have integrated conservation values and programs into their operations.
    We recognize the importance of preserving landscape integrity and encouraging forest restoration areas and forest landscapes that provide pathways for wildlife.
    We recognize the importance of preserving healthy ecosystems and work with suppliers who have integrated forest conservation and restoration, "carbon storage" and water and soil protection into their operations.
    We work with a variety of stakeholders -- among them non-governmental organizations as well as suppliers -- to identify the source of forest fiber in our supply chain.
    We work with stakeholders to encourage protection and sound management of forests with exceptional conservation values in key regions.

C. We Encourage Sustainable Paper Procurement and Clean Production
    
        Currently we adhere to standards maintained by:
            CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
            FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
            PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
            SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative)
    We give preference to suppliers who conform to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 environmental management standards for manufacturing and forestry practices.
    We give preference to suppliers which use loggers who have been properly trained in recommended harvesting and reforestation methods.
    We use a scorecard system to compare and assess potential suppliers.

D. We Encourage Responsible Use of Forest Resources
    
    We identify for consumers paper and paperboard products made from fibers manufactured with recycled content with post-consumer material.
    We understand the need for virgin fiber in some paper manufacturing to ensure adequate strength. Where feasible, we strive to reduce the selected use of paper and paper products (including newsprint, packaging, tissue products, office papers and printing stock) made from 100-percent virgin fiber content.
    We reduce the amount of raw materials used to make our products by encouraging the development of lighter-weight grades of paper that meet our organizationís functional and quality needs.
    We work with our printers to reduce paper waste (reduced overage counts, make-readies, etc.).


IV. USE OF PAPER IN PACKAGING

Easy Green Shop believes that sourcing environmentally preferred papers and other materials is only a beginning.  Equally important is efficient use of papers and materials once they are purchased.

    We work continually to eliminate unnecessary packaging materials that do not protect merchandise or enhance its presentation before prospects and customers.
    We employ lighter-weight or efficient packing materials where possible to minimize volume/weight and reduce our environmental footprint.
    We encourage packaging suppliers to submit alternate solutions for environmentally preferable packaging, in addition to quoting prices on approved or existing specifications.
    We specify environmentally preferable packaging and packing material to vendors who ship to distribution points or directly to our customers.
    We encourage customers to participate in any existing national packaging/recycle program wherever possible.


V. RECYCLING AND POLLUTION REDUCTION IN OUR WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY

Easy Green Shop's policies and initiatives in this area are guided by the Three Rs: "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle."  With this in mind, we seek an efficient and environmentally sensible workplace, as well as to promote environmental stewardship in our community.  Toward this principle,

A. We Reduce & Reuse in the Workplace
    Where possible and practical, we purchase office papers, packing and packaging materials made from recycled materials with post-consumer content.
    We integrate the use of electronic communications (e-mail, Web and intranet) for external and internal communications.
    We use recycled paper with post-consumer content for internal company print communications.
    We develop online systems for reports, projects and monitoring to reduce paper generation.
    We reuse file folders, hanging folders and binders where appropriate.
    We substitute durable materials for disposable products.

B. We Deploy Recycling in Our Workplace
    We investigate energy, water, material usage and waste management procedures, practices, and patterns and set internal goals to reduce, reuse and recycle, and establish programs to measure internal savings in waste, energy and costs.
    We implement in-house recycling programs for:
        Paper        
        Corrugated cardboard
        Beverage cans and bottles
        Plastics    
    We reward employees for:
        Advancing our recycling policies and/or initiatives
        Suggesting creative or innovative environmental solutions

C. We Promote/Advance Recycling in Our Community
    We educate customers by advising them about what is or is not recyclable among materials we present to them, and, if available, where to recycle materials.
    We encourage customers to reuse, return or recycle materials where appropriate.
    We provide customers with information about recycling:
    We encourage customers to get local recycling programs underway.
D. We Employ Efficient Transportation and Distribution
    We implement transportation policies and practices guided by objectives to reduce vehicular emissions, decrease traffic congestion and improve air quality.  In support of this principle,:
        We use or encourage our suppliers to use eco-efficient transportation fleets
        We make or encourage our suppliers to make wise choices of fuels such as those with low sulfur content or alternative fuels such as liquid natural gas (LNG).
        We use or encourage our suppliers to use eco-driving to decrease fuel consumption.
        We shift or encourage our suppliers to shift volumes to rail and sea transport whenever feasible.
        We consider geographic location when selecting suppliers.
        Wherever feasible, we plan for the greatest efficiency when drop shipping our mail.

Easy Green Shop is committed to continually improve our environmental performance.  To this end, we endeavor to make responsible, sound business decisions and wherever feasible integrate environmental considerations into all aspects of our operations.  We readily acknowledge that environmental stewardship is an ongoing challenge and a continual learning experience.  We continue to research best practices and to explore the possibility of partnerships with other companies, environmental and conservation organizations, and local communities, all with the intent of further strengthening our environmental stewardship.