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As we get closer to the MarketingProfs BtoB Forum, all of us speakers are going through the usual "turn in your speeches so we can make handouts" hustle. (Thanks for putting up with us, Shelley!)
I've never been a big environmentalist. Never been anti either. Just neutral.
But I'm increasingly aware of just how much crud I generate. As far as I can tell, someone comes into our house every night while we are sleeping and fills all the garbage cans with paper. The Trash Fairy? Garbage Claus? (Admittedly, a huge percentage seems to be related to substances that come out of my 4-month-old baby. She is a perfectly optimized milk-to-turd conversion engine.)
Here's where I can make a little difference ... follow along if you please.
Don't Make It - Don't Take It
1. Don't take paper. Don't let people give it to you.
* Don't accept printed marketing material. Tell them to email it to you. You don't need to lug around a bunch of brochures.
* Tell restaurants you don't need a bag to carry the already over-wrapped single sandwich you are going to eat in the next sixty seconds.
* Buy stuff with minimal packaging. Train manufacturers to use less packaging by buying things with less packaging.
2. Don't make paper.
* Don't print stuff just to file it (and then throw away 10 years from now). Just save it on the hard drive and back up often.
* Use tiny handouts instead of big brochures. This bookmark is more effective than anything I've ever printed. It's also cheaper, cooler, and 200 fit in your back pocket. Get creative, learn to tell your story in a 2x7 inch space.
* Print large documents 2 pages per sheet (or 6 per sheet for powerpoint). All laser printers do this.
* Stop printing emails. I've started seeing the following on the bottom emails I received: "Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary."
3. Large-scale situations.
* Conference producers: Stop printing handouts. Put them on a CD or memory stick instead. It's cheaper for you, easier to travel with, and nobody wants a 300 page ring binder. (Even better... put them all on SlideShare.)
* Get rid of the copy machine. Offices that don't have copy machines don't make so many copies. You think twice when have to go to Kinkos and pay for it. You can do fine printing extras on a laser printer or using a little fax/copier deal for small quantities.
4. Exceptions.
* Books. Buy lots of books. Love them, share them. Specifically, buy lots of copies of "Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking" by Andy Sernovitz.
* Poop control. Never, ever skimp on diapers. The good people at Kimberly-Clark have worked very hard to make excellent crap-control technologies, and I am deeply grateful. Of course, it may be cheaper to just wipe my daughter's ass with dollar bills ... but that sets a troubling precedent.
Resources and links:
* EPA Tip Sheet
* London Remade Tip Sheet
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Comments
Beautiful, Andy! I'm feeling pretty torn (get it? TORN?) about the whole issue of handouts for the B2B Forum coming up in Chicago. Love the idea of putting all the presentation content on CDs -- it not only saves trees, it keeps your baggage from going over the airline weight limits. But I also know that people love to take notes on the printed version.
I should take a stand. Right now I'll have a seat and think on it some more... ;]
Posted by: Shelley Ryan | 09.11.07
Here's a really easy one: get some durable shopping bags and leave them in the car, and when you buy groceries, use them instead of the plastic bags from the store. They hold more, they don't break, and you don't waste all those plastic bags. (Exception: I get plastic bags sometimes to have something for litterbox scooping and puppy poop picking-up.) I wish stores would charge a few cents a bag; you'd see a big change in behavior.
Posted by: John Whiteside | 09.11.07
Hi, Andy. Love your list, but I beg to differ on creating printed marketing material. In my experience, people prefer their information either electronically or in print. For many, touching and reading paper still rules. We'd lose a lot of prospects without something on paper.
The good news is that paper is recyclable and the logging industry typically practices reforestation.
Posted by: Elaine Fogel | 09.11.07
John -- IKEA actually charged me 5 cents a bag when I was there a few weekends ago. I thought it was perfect.. because guess what? I used 2 bags instead of 20.
Andy -- Some days, it feel like I'm wiping the butts of my kids with dollar bills... and they've been out of diapers for years.
Posted by: Ann Handley | 09.11.07
Great post, Andy.
It is not really a matter of being an environmentalist or not, it is just about not being wasteful. You don't have to be out protesting.
I would add to that that we should try to conserve on gas, which will save us money, reduce pollution, and (very important) reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We all know that oil revenue funds some of the most hostile regimes and hostile organizations in the world.
It is a hard thing to do but consolidating errands (saves time too) and so on can help. My current car burns just gasoline but my next car is going to be alternative fuel, hybrid, or whatever is the best tech out there when I am in the market for a car again.
I am lucky in that I live in a neighborhood that is very walkable so I am able to walk for groceries, out for coffee, the brew pub, restaurants, etc.
If we all made some changes in our lifestyles (when possible), it can make a huge difference. It is not always possible but I think everyone can change something for the better.
Posted by: Neil Anuskiewicz | 09.12.07
I live in Amsterdam and we have to pay 20 eurocents per bag at the grocery store. It's a great tactic, in the year I've lived here it's broken my habit of using plastic bags to carry groceries every time I'm at the store! One of my favorite waste reducers? Sit down and enjoy your Starbucks and drink from a mug instead of using a paper cup.
Nice Post!
Posted by: holly kasun | 09.12.07
Andy,
Great green thoughts!
Shelly, maybe download the presentations to Ipods and make it the one and only conference party favor.
Ann, I am pretty sure I am doing the same thing with butts and dollar bills although really as they get older the denomination increases exponentially.
Guess if we had started here...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20464264/
Marianne
Posted by: Marianne Richmond | 09.18.07