Are smaller stamps going to save the planet?
France’s La Poste proudly announces what they consider a major step in environmental friendliness: the “Eco-carnet“.
Up to now, a carnet contained 10 stamps; the new version contains 12 stamps of a smaller size, using the same amount of paper.
La Poste claims a saving of 13% on paper, which is the equivalent of 192 trees per year.
That means that by the time La Poste has saved 192 trees, they have delivered 1.8 billion letters across the country.
Most French post travels by train or aeroplane between major regional distribution centers, from where it travels by lorry to local post offices, before it is delivered by your friendly postman on his moped (in cities) or mini-van (in country towns).
Has anybody ever calculated how much energy goes into the delivery of one single letter, and how much CO2 ends up in the atmosphere to get 1.8 billion letters at their final destination?
Fortunately, there’s a way to save a lot more trees. It’s called e-mail.
