Under a Voluntary Producer Responsibility (VPR) agreement signed
on 1st November 2011, the Direct Marketing Association and DEFRA have
set tough targets aimed at reducing physical waste and carbon emissions over
the next three years.

Under the agreement, the direct marketing industry will have to achieve a 25 percent increase in the use of suppression files and make it easier to opt out of receiving unaddressed mail by extending current addressed preference service arrangements to cover all kinds of direct mail, including unaddressed.

The targets centre on waste prevention, sustainable production and recycling.

As many Mediascenes regular mailing clients will know, we have been promoting waste reduction and sustainability for many years. We offer free data checks on the mailing data we receive to all clients. The audits produced give a snapshot of the quality of their data and bring postcodes and addresses into line with Royal Mail official records. Duplicates, movers and the deceased are all identified as are records registered with the mailing preference service. These can then be removed from the mailing file to ensure only validated records are mailed.

The earlier in the mailing process this is done, the greater the contribution made, not only to waste prevention also to the bottom line. Print runs can be reduced, postage costs are reduced and ROI increased.

We can also help you meet sustainability targets, by offering a full range of recycled or FSC approved paper products and providing cost effective alternatives to polythene wrapped mailings.

For more information about how we can help you reduce waste and increase call Huw on 01443 828800 or email huwroberts@mediascene.co.uk