search site

Or quick find...

 

The DMA & The Environment

 
The DMA and its members are committed to the environmentally responsible use of direct mail.
 
  • Direct mail material accounts for approximately 2% by weight of total household waste (2005 research).
 
  • Direct mail (addressed & unaddressed and loose inserts in newspapers and magazines) accounts for just 4.4% of paper usage in the UK. This is approximately 500,000 tonnes of paper of the 12.5million tonnes of paper and cardboard used every year (source: Confederation of Paper Industries)
 
  • An estimated 95%+ of paper used in direct mail comes from recycled or managed resources (Confederation of European Paper Industries figures)
 
In 2003, the DMA signed a landmark agreement with the Government. This agreement committed the direct marketing industry to a series of targets over a 10-year period and to a change in behaviour which would reduce landfill, benefit consumers and lead to more effective targeted direct mail. The agreement has three clear objectives.
 
  • Increase collection and recycling of direct mail
  • Publicise MPS, opt-out and selective facilities
  • Improve the targeting of direct mail
 
In tandem with this is a set of timeline targets for the recycling of direct mail. These are 30% (2005), 55% (2009) and 70% (2013).