You may be familiar with the outcomes from COP26, which highlight the global push to achieve the 2050 Net Zero target and limit warming to below 1.5°. Businesses worldwide are in various stages of digital transformation, driven not only by the pandemic's impact but also by the need to align with sustainability goals and meet internal ESG objectives.
Paper usage significantly contributes to an organisation’s carbon footprint, especially when considering the print, pack, and post processes.
Traditionally, post has been the go-to method for sending important correspondence, such as bills and statements, to customers.
Despite a continuous decline in the volume of letters delivered in the UK, 7.8 billion letters were sent during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.
Consider the environmental impact: Royal Mail estimates that sending 7.8 billion small letters results in 137,280 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
To put this into perspective, 137,280 tonnes of CO2 is equivalent to:
To offset this amount of carbon, we would need to grow 6,850,000 trees for one year. This impact is solely from letters, excluding the carbon generated from energy consumption and travel. This clearly shows the urgency of acting to protect our planet.
While protecting our environment is a compelling reason to reduce paper use, there are other benefits, such as efficiency.
When documents are sent via post, they can take up to 7 days to arrive, which can be frustrating for customers who are under time constraints.
Printing, packing, and posting documents can be costly for businesses, many of which outsource these processes to specialist firms at a significant expense.
With rising postal tariffs, sending mail has never been more expensive, and postal reliability has decreased as well.
Switching from physical to digital communications could save a substantial budget and increase the likelihood of timely customer delivery.
If reducing letter usage is the goal, what should we use instead? The answer lies in a familiar tool – email.
Although instant messaging apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have become more popular since Covid-19, email usage has also surged, with an estimated 319 billion emails sent and received daily in 2021.
Using email instead of paper for customer interactions not only avoids the issues mentioned earlier but also aligns with consumer preferences.
Research indicates that customers find calling, texting, and emailing cheaper, faster, and more convenient than traditional post.
The main concern is that consumers perceive email as less secure – and they’re right; standard email is not the safest way to share personal data.
This is where Mailock comes into play. We are dedicated to creating a secure and connected network of organisations that prioritise sustainability and trust.
Mailock is a secure messaging solution that allows you to enjoy all the benefits of email while ensuring your sensitive information is protected from cyber threats.
COP26 Goals, UK Government, 2023
Strategy UK: Outlook for Letter Volumes to 2028, International Distribution Services, 2021
Royal Mail Carbon Calculator, Royal Mail, 2024
What Exactly is 1 Tonne of CO2?, Climate Neutral Group, 2021
Daily Number of E-mails Worldwide, Statista, 2021
The Future of Consumer Needs for Postal Services, Citizens Advice, 2016
Sabrina McClune, 18.06.24
Sam Kendall, 18.06.24