How to use email in green marketing

First, some details on paper use from a consumer prospective. According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if US consumers sent one less greeting card more than 50,000 cubic yards of paper would be saved. That is the equivalent of up to 100,000 trees saved.

E-cards and greeting sites have captured a lot of consumer interest over the past ten years, one new offering may increase that corner of the greeting card marketing again. Called TreeMail, the hub allows consumers to carve a message into a virtual tree and then share the message through social networks and email. While intended for consumers, this is one example of how a brand could create a green canvas in which consumers could share messages and ideas of green living. An example of the app can be found at Country Living magazine.

From a business standpoint, some experts believe that businesses use between 1% and 3% of revenues on printing costs – costs that could be cut by using email or other online communication – like social networking or texting.

Campaigner’s Melanie Attia suggests:

• Promote your good deed in your email campaigns. While it may not make a difference to everyone on your opt-in list, there are many consumers who prefer to develop relationships with businesses that participate in the green movement and will choose to buy your products or services because of it.

• Remind your readers that instead of printing, they should consider forwarding your email, news or promotions to friends. Remind them that if their network of friends and family choose emails instead of direct mail, we will be that much closer to the billion acts of green.