Via Post, the new green mail service developed by Microsoft and Royal Mail, has confirmed it will launch by early December in time for the Christmas post rush.
The innovative new service works by providing customers with a free software download that enables them to send correspondence from a computer to any UK address. The message is encrypted and sent to a dedicated printer near the recipient's address and is then printed and delivered by Royal Mail.
Simon Campbell, chief executive of the new company, said that the distribution model could cut the carbon footprint of a letter by 75 per cent. " It could save 100m litres of petrol from lorries alone," he said. "Cutting out this large part of distribution, especially in air mail, could make us carbon positive, meaning people may even earn carbon credits as a result of using the service."
Campell added that the service will start using eight printing distribution centres nationwide, before growing to 30 within a year. This will ensure that " the maximum a letter will physically travel is 20 miles".
Via Post is currently targeting the markets for billing and direct mail marketing, where it claims cost as well as carbon savings could be enormous, and is talking to several banks and utility companies about the service.
Royal Mail estimates the average cost of a letter to be 80p to £1, including stamp and stationary, according to Campbell, whereas Via Post is 29p all inclusive, saving a company about 75 per cent a letter.
Campell added that Royal Mail will seek to use high-quality recycled stationary for all the letters they print, in an attempt to further bolster the service's green credentials.
Increased taxes on gas guzzlers, tougher rules on biofuels and consultation with automakers over emissions all in the mix as Darling seeks to bolster green credentials 10 Mar 2008
Industry veteran Simon Perry argues that it's time for clarity over data centre emissions 03 Jul 2008
Computing's review of the year looks back at the top stories about IT and the environment 18 Dec 2007
Pre-Budget Review delivers reforms to aviation tax and hints at more incentives for fuel-efficient cars 10 Oct 2007
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
Focus on energy savings through fuel efficiency for homes and public and commercial buildings 04 Jul 2008
ActionAid accuses G8 of driving more people into poverty by pursing biofuels and cutting agri-aid 04 Jul 2008
More news
Businesses' new found focus on the environment may be welcome, but according to Conrad MacKerron, it is taking attention away from workers' rights issues – and the credibility of the entire green business movement could be at risk 03 Jul 2008
It may be a year old, but as Dell's Jonathan Perry explains, firms looking to get rid of their old IT kit still need to pay attention to the WEEE directive 02 Jul 2008
Telling customers about your environmental targets is all well and good but, as Paul Thomas argues, they are meaningless if you do not know how they are to be achieved 01 Jul 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
