recycling » Sift Blog

Recently, I came across a Good USA web story on Canadians being given the option to opt out of receiving hard copy Yellow Pages after two Canadians returned hundreds of unused copies to make the point that some consumers no longer wanted to receive them (and wanted to reduce waste).

So, being the conscious consumer that I am I sent an email with that link to the New Zealand Yellow® team and asked the question if New Zealander’s were going to be given the option of being able to opt out of receiving a hard copy book. I can’t say I have picked up a yellow pages for a long time and usually just use the online version.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive and email back from their Communications Manager Danette Hunter (bonus marks number 1 – a response!) and although the opt out option is not currently available to New Zealanders’ the Yellow® NZ team are aware of the Canadian model and are working on the technology to make the opt out option available in the future.

We have previously blogged about the information in the Yellow Pages about the best way to recycle your old books but, there was so much more that I was not even aware of.
I was pleased to read the following in the email response:

• Yellow® is committed to reducing its carbon footprint
• The directory paper stock for the White pages® and Yellow pages® is accredited by the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council).
• All of the paper used for printing the books is from timber off-cuts, material that would otherwise have gone to the landfill. [Awesome!]
• All of the books are 100% recyclable and local councils are able to recycle them. They also publish recycling information in the front of every book so that people can find out about recycling in their local region.
• All the inks used are water based.
• The covers are biodegradable.
• They’ve reduced the percentage of yellow wash used for the Yellow pages® from 25% to 15%.
• This year the Auckland White and Yellow pages® will be reduced in size by 10% which will save more paper.

In some environmental areas New Zealand is lagging far behind other countries in environmental leadership from businesses. So, even though Yellow® don’t provide an opt out option (yet) they are conscious of their environmental impact as proven above with proactive measures to reduce the impact of their books.

Their Communication’s Manager Danette Hunter stated that “We’re constantly working on transforming and delivering new innovations into our business and we do appreciate any suggestions for improvement that we receive.”

So, sometimes it is good to speak up, demand and ask suppliers and manufacturers about how they are reducing their environmental impacts – you never know what answer you will get.

Treehouse built in 2009 for Yellow advertising via Treehugger.com