Tag: North America

ForestEthics Launches 'Do Not Mail' Campaign to Stop Junk Mail

Five years after the national Do Not Call Registry became the most popular consumer rights bill in history, conservation group ForestEthics launched its campaign for a Do Not Mail Registry today to give Americans the choice to stop wasteful, annoying and environmentally destructive junk mail that also fosters identity theft.

ForestEthics is urging Americans to sign a petition at http://www.donotmail.org/ demanding a national registry that will finally offer citizens control over the unsolicited coupons, credit cards, catalogs and advertisements that fill their mailboxes on a daily basis.

“The Do Not Call Registry of 2003 addressed a nuisance — telemarketers’ calls at dinnertime,” said Todd Paglia, Executive Director of ForestEthics. “Do Not Mail also addresses a nuisance, but junk mail has the added consequence of serious environmental effects that must be confronted if we are to stop climate change and reckless deforestation.”

The production of the 100 billion pieces of junk mail that Americans annually receive requires more than 100 million trees, while producing as much global warming emissions as 3.7 million cars. Moreover, this deforestation is occurring in forests that play vital roles in the fight against climate change: the Canadian Boreal and Indonesian Tropical Forest. If left intact, these trees and soils act as a defense against global warming. The Canadian Boreal Forest forms part of the greater Boreal Forest, which alone stores more carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem on earth. Yet, it is still logged at a rate of 2 acres a minute, 24 hours a day, to produce junk mail and other paper products.

Junk mail distributed in the United States currently accounts for 30% of all the mail delivered in the world, though 44% of it goes to landfills unopened.

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USPS.com Week showcases convenience, depth of postal service products

Conduct Postal Service business with the click of a mouse, without leaving the house. Or office.

The U.S. Postal Service website, usps.com, makes it even easier for busy business owners and harried consumers to save time. More than 1 million people visit the website every day. To highlight the quick, easy and convenient products and services available online, the Postal Service hosts “USPS.com Week” through March 14.

USPS.com Week lets the Postal Service deliver some of its most convenient, easy-to-use solutions in time for the spring mailing season — IRS deadlines, Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, anniversaries and Father’s Day, said Anita Bizzotto, chief marketing officer and executive vice president.

The Postal Service’s website offers nearly three dozen services and products to help small business owners and consumers. Customers can: Pay postage and print labels, Request free package pickup, Send shipments around the world, Track packages and confirm deliveries, Design customized postage, Order free, environmentally friendly packaging, Manage mail.

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Postal TrendWatch Q4 07

As of September 30, 2007, the Postal Service completed its first full quarter operating under its new rate structure, which was implemented on May 14, 2007. In a continuation of previous trends, First Class Mail volume declined, while Standard Mail volume increased.

Meanwhile, USPS’s year-end reports revealed significant financial setbacks, which the Service attributed to benefit-funding requirements of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Given the 10-year duration of those funding requirements, this problem is likely to continue. As a result, the Postal Service will need to continue increasing productivity and cutting costs to meet this requirement under the law’s new rate-cap provisions.

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Postal Regulatory Comission – Strategical and Operational Plan

Dan G. Blair, Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, today formally released the Commission’s first Strategic and Operational Plan that details the agency’s vision and goals over the next five years. “This Plan outlines the strategies and activities that the Commission will use to help ensure transparency and accountability of the U.S. Postal Service and to foster a vital and efficient universal mail system,” said Blair.

The Plan incorporates responsibilities established by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) and will guide the Commission as it implements the key provisions of the Act. By emphasizing the operational work that must be accomplished over the next five years, the Commission will evaluate its progress and performance on the strategic goals outlined in the Plan. The report identifies seven key strategic goals, with short-term and on-going strategies: Modern Rate and Product Regulation – Establish and maintain a predictable, transparent, and effective system of rate and product regulation. Service Performance Evaluation – Ensure appropriate and transparent U.S. Postal Service performance standards and measurements to promote an efficient, effective and responsive mail service. Financial Accountability and Compliance – Ensure transparent, accurate and informative U.S. Postal Service data reporting sufficient for evaluation of financial performance. Complaint Process – Ensure U.S. Postal Service accountability through a fair and open public complaint process that provides appropriate and timely resolution. Public Participation and Government Relations – Ensure the Commission is visible and readily accessible to all stakeholders. – Human Capital – Ensure a system that fosters recruitment, development and retention of a talented and skilled workforce. Program Integration and Support – Utilize latest technology, operational systems, and organizational infrastructure in achieving Commission goals.

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Deutsche Post CEO mulls tie-up of US express operations with FedEx

Deutsche Post World Net AG’s chief executive Frank Appel is mulling a tie-up of the company’s troubled US express operations with rival FedEx Corp, Financial Times Deutschland reported, without saying where it got the information.

Appel said yesterday he will present the company’s decision in May on the future of the US express operations, which have posted unspecified losses since the company entered the market in 2004.

There have already been repeated talks with FedEx head Frederick Smith, FT Deutschland reported today.

But to retain some leverage, Appel is also looking into a possible tie-up with regional US express mail companies, it said.

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