Last week on Earth Day, the Yellow Pages Association (YPA) released its first sustainability report. It included updates on their progress including the news that:
"Yellow Pages publishers use directory paper that contains recycled content. In addition to recycled paper pulp, this type of paper contains fiber primarily derived from “residual chips,” a by-product of sawmills left after logs are converted to lumber. That is, the chips become paper pulp instead of going into landfills or being burned. It is not necessary to use new trees to produce Yellow Pages."
This is good news, but my question is: Do we really need to print about 130 million Yellow Pages every year?
Just think about it - how many of you really use these printed directories? I guess the number is shrinking every year, especially when all the information is available online on their website. But at the same time the wasteful practice of delivering everyone new copies every year is still going on. It's true that now you can opt-out if you want to, but doesn't it make more sense to make it an opt-in process instead of opt-out?
It makes perfectly sense from both a consumer and environmental point of view - give the directories just to those people who really want them and who will actually use them. The only one that might not see it as a win-win solution are the Yellow Pages Publishers as a smaller circulation means smaller revenues from ads.
In their sustainability report, Neg Norton, president of YPA says:
"Yellow Pages print directories remain a key part of our business and a widely used tool to connect buyers and sellers. In fact, in 2009 alone, print Yellow Pages received 12 billion references. As long as consumers continue to use print directories and our clients see value being represented in them, we will continue to offer that service – but we must be committed to doing so responsibly and with high regard for the communities in which we live and work."
I can understand that the directories are valued and used by people, but again, why give so many of them to others who don't need them? and why do it every year? But, Neg (if I may), if you're really committed to do it responsibly, then you should shift to an opt-in process. Otherwise, no matter how hard you would work to improve the current opt-out unsustainable practice, you will fail to meet your commitment to make the yellow pages green.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!
4 comments:
Its not just Yellow Pages these days either, its the Thomson's Directory and the phone book has expanded to include local businesses. Opt out doesn't work in places where people live in tenements because the directories are put at the bottom of the stairs rather than delivered to your door. Opt in is definitely the best idea.
I totally agree. I actually get annoyed when I find the Yellow Pages on my front porch and it usually goes directly into the recycle bin. I look everything up online usually which doesn't require printing! The Yellow Pages needs to move out of the stone age and let people request them if they want one. Insurance companies should also stop printing tons of useless documents and mailing them to me every time a change is made.
i am agree with online yellow page directory not printed yellow book because we need to save tree for next generation if when u use a printed directory then what you doing just doing see the companies name and address etc. and after that it is wasted for you and you threw them to garbage it is wasted of paper and i think we have to use the online yellow pages directory it is to much beneficial for local business search
Thanks. Opt-in is definitely the way to go. In Oregon we have a bill pending, SB 525 which will make that shift. Learn more at
http://albertideation.com/sb525
Let's make good change happen, people.
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