Having been involved in the print industry for nearly three decades, and with paper being a huge part of what we do, the question of what PSE are doing to improve sustainability has been at the forefront of our minds for a very long time.

The great news is that awareness of environmental impact and production methods has greatly improved. However, this doesn’t mean there isn’t still a lot we can do to positively influence things.

At PSE, sustainability is about more than just creating a positive public image. It’s a core belief that encompasses not only the obvious environmental initiatives associated with the print industry but also a return to sustainable business practices, relationships, waste reduction, and commercial viability tailored to our clients’ needs.

We’re always happy to discuss any sustainability questions, as they help us refine and improve our work, so please do get in touch. To give you an idea of the day-to-day sustainability practices at PSE, we’ve shared some more details below.

Waste Reduction is Key to Sustainability

We view waste reduction as the most important and effective way to support sustainability, though it is often overlooked. Through smart data profiling and planning, we help you target the people most likely to respond to your mail. This means you can achieve your goals while reducing the number of items you need to send. It will also reduce your impact on the environment and save you money.

Using Sustainable Materials

The trees used in paper production are harvestable crops, much like a farmer grows wheat to harvest for bread. The key is that these trees need to be grown and harvested sustainably, a practice followed in managed forests across Europe since 1993. Between 2005 and 2020, European forests grew by 58,390 square kilometres, which amounts to over 1,500 football pitches every day (source: Two Sides).

Paper’s advantage is that growing tree crops helps maintain healthy forests, vital for climate and biodiversity protection. Recycled materials are popular, but they might not always be the best option for your business. It’s sometimes better to pay extra for FSC or PEFC-accredited paper, ensuring your materials come from renewable sources. The choice depends on your brand and how you wish to communicate with your customers.

Sustainable Production Methods

Just as cars have become more economical over recent years, so have printing presses. They are quicker to set up, faster to run, and consume less power. When factories receive their power from renewable energy sources, the environmental impact is greatly reduced and will continue to decrease. Additionally, the use of vegetable-based inks—made with vegetable oils such as soybean or corn oil instead of petroleum—can improve print quality while being much better for the environment.

Sustainability in PSE’s Business Practices

We incorporate sustainable practices into everything we do. As we enter our fourth decade, we want PSE to deliver industry-leading direct mail campaigns for many decades to come. This means caring for the environment as well as for our clients, team, and suppliers, ensuring we focus on long-term relationships, delivering commercial benefits, development, and continuous improvement for everyone in the PSE ecosystem.

Tree Planting

For every campaign we deliver, we automatically plant trees. After researching how we can make a more positive impact, we decided to plant trees in mangrove forests in Madagascar. Mangroves are not only excellent at absorbing harmful CO2 from the atmosphere, but they also store more carbon than traditional forests. This initiative supports six UN Sustainable Development Goals (source: United Nations SDGs), including reducing poverty in the local area.

Carbon Balancing & Sustainability

We have been offsetting the carbon emitted through paper production with the World Land Trust (source: World Land Trust) for over four years. Initially, we offered this as an option to our clients, but it quickly became standard practice for every campaign we produce. We chose the World Land Trust because of the credibility of their patrons, including Sir David Attenborough, and because they protect natural ecosystems and conserve biodiversity, with an emphasis on threatened habitats and endangered species.

We’re fully aware that there is still much more to do, and we will continue to work closely with our team, clients, and suppliers to ensure we remain at the forefront of sustainability in the direct mail industry. If you have any questions or want to discuss anything further, feel free to get in touch!