How to Make Our Post Offices Greener
England used to have a post office in every town and village, but that’s no longer the case. So for those remaining (even if it’s a kiosk in a local NISA store), supporting them is important. Not just for you, but for older and disabled residents who can’t go into town or online, to post letters or do their banking.
Local post offices (a bit like pubs and indie shops) keep communities connected. There are no massive national chains or self-checkouts here, you have to wait in queue, while the local older resident has her weekly natter with the post office clerk! As it should be.
Staff know regulars by name, and do far more than sell stamps and envelopes. And it’s nice to collect a parcel from a local post office, instead of an Amazon locker.
Many post offices also offer local banking services, imperative in places where bank branches (and even ATMs) have gone to the wall. You can use post offices to pay bills, top up utilities and even renew your driving license.
It would be safe to say that for some older people in isolated communities, it could be (aside from buying food) the only human friendly face that some people see all week).
Ask Royal Mail to Stop Using Rubber Bands
One real issue these days with Royal Mail is using red rubber bands to keep letters and parcels together. It’s not the postie’s fault, but inevitably millions are dropped, and trap around hedgehog legs, or birds feed them to chicks, thinking they are worms.
One man found a red rubber band in his cat’s litter tray, and says (just like us), Royal Mail should be fined for littering. They also can wash down storm drains, and go into the sea.
A far better alternative is to swap the rubber bands for paper belly bands, which would be far less harmful to wildlife. If you see any, take them home and snip them up, then bin securely.
There is no point Royal Mail promoting sustainable packaging and recycling, if they continue to use red rubber bands on our streets.
Use Envelope Reuse Labels
Rather than buy new envelopes in plastic packaging, invest in a set of envelope reuse labels. These are simply slapped on existing envelopes, to reuse them. They are particularly good for business, as it looks more professional than just scribbling over old addresses.
You can buy envelope reuse labels that promote great causes, and use profits to help hedgehog rescue and humane research.
You can tear off old stamps (leave a small margin) and pop in an A5 envelope (with broken jewellery and old coins) and send off to raise cash for favourite charities. Order a free sack for large collections.
Using envelope stickers is good for the planet, but of course also saves you money.
If sending greetings cards, don’t send ‘plantable’ ones to homes with pets, as many grow into toxic wildflowers).
If you use internal mail (or send mail to the same people again and again), it’s worth investing in Australia’s Lopees. This one-time purchase sends organic cotton reusable envelopes (including book bags) that you can use forever.
How to Stop (nearly) All Junk Mail
Nearly everyone does not want junk mail. But the 2% of people who do reply, means the industry continues to send around one tree’s worth of unwanted mail to people each year. And this includes glittery paper that is not easy to recycle (you can recycle window envelopes, machines can separate them).
Never send glossy leaflets through the post (one dog behind the door almost died, from licking the glue).
Citizens Advice has a good post on all the places to register with (Royal Mail, mailing preference services) etc to avoid receiving junk mail from registered companies).
Councils and police forces can join the Think Jessica campaign, to help stop scam mail to vulnerable people (international lotteries, talismans etc).
This campaign wants the law changed, so that posties (often the only people aware) can alert someone, if recipients are receiving hundreds of mailings demanding money.
Another good thing to do if you get a lot of junk mail is to get out a notebook and make up a middle initial! So each time you have to fill in any information, use a different one:
- Mr A A Carpenter
- Mr A B Carpenter
- Mr A C Carpenter
Etc. Then if you start getting junk mail, you should be able to see pretty easily where your name was sold on, and ask them to stop.
Switch to Paper Packaging Tape
Paper tape secures packages without plastic. Made with natural adhesives, it’s strong and seals boxes tight. When it’s time to dispose of the box, you can recycle everything in one go.
Paper tape holds up well during shipping and looks smart and neat. It’s a small change that helps avoid microplastics and supports full recyclability.
FSC-certified mailer bags are sold in packs of 1 to 50, the company also sells mailing paper sacks for larger items and board back envelopes.
Eco Packaging Ideas for Fragile Items
If you have to send delicate items through the post, you no longer have to wrap everything in plastic bubble wrap. It may be great fun to ‘pop’ it, but it’s terrible for the planet. You can now find companies offering biodegradable cornstarch peanuts that biodegrade instead.
The best solution is usually corrugated cardboard, which is made from layers of recycled paper, so fits snugly around fragile items to reduce movement, and force from impact.
Flexi-Hex uses a hexagonal design, made with 85% recycled cardboard and water adhesives. Sold both retail and wholesale, it fits bottles to spectacles, there are even versions to send surfboards! This company is DPD-approved.
Where to Recycle Plastic Bubble Wrap
You can recycle bubble wrap (LDPE) at supermarket bag recycling bins. For a big office clear-out, order a Terracycle shipping materials box (costs £100 to £400 depending on size).
Towns and villages can split the cost, to get all plastic supplies out of town for good, never to return. Just order a box, fill up at a drop-off point and send back using the prepaid shipping label. Items are made into things like industrial piping and park benches.
You can use the box to recycle plastic mailers along with bubble/stretch wrap, packing foam, plastic tape dispensers, shipping peanuts and deflated air cushions. You can’t recycle padded envelopes, laminated paper or hazardous waste.
Bike Delivery (for posting parcels)
If you run a local business, considering using bicycle delivery services (rather than big van companies) to post local parcels. Examples are Three Bags Full (Bath) and Pedal & Post (Oxford) use bike delivery (the latter combines with trains for intercity).
It takes longer to post letters abroad, due to snow or mountains. In Chile, some letters take so long to get there due to the Andes, that people often just take the bus to deliver in person!
What was the Post Office Scandal About?
You’ve likely heard on the news (or watched the film) about the recent Post Office scandal, which has tarred the reputation of our national post office.
Thankfully the victims are hopefully to be financially compensated. But many have been left with mental health problems, and some have died since, so will not see justice.
The Post Office scandal stands as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent British history. It affected hundreds of sub-postmasters and postmistresses, costing them their jobs, reputations, and in some cases, their freedom.
In the late 1990s, a flawed accounting system led to users reporting shortfalls they could not explain. Rather than trusting staff, the Post Office relied on the system data, and believing a computer over people led to over 700 sub-postmasters and postmistresses (over 20 years) faced accusations of theft, fraud, and false accounting. Many were prosecuted, and some lost their jobs, homes and life savings.
Several went to prison, while others died before their names could be cleared. There were suicides linked to the shame and pressure brought by the accusations. Yet, for years, the Post Office refused to accept any fault, blaming individuals for what the IT system had caused.
In 2019, Mr Bates and others took action, and after a long legal battle, a High Court judgement found that the Horizon system was flawed and unreliable.
The case is now taught as an example of what happens when large companies ignore the real-world impact of their systems on people’s lives.
