Are there eco-friendly options for bulk Christmas cards and postcards?

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for charity mail, so it’s best to start planning sooner rather than later. Bulk mailing services can make your Christmas cards greener without any extra effort on your part. It mostly comes down to recycled or FSC-certified stock, a right-sized card and envelope and a mailing list that only reaches people who’ll receive it.

Choosing recycled and FSC^® stock

FSC® is a chain-of-custody certification, which means the paper can be traced back to the forest it was harvested from.

If you’re considering recycled paper, there are some things to take into consideration. Colour, texture and performance on press can vary, and cost may be a factor too. An experienced mailing house will know which recycled papers deliver good results on its equipment, so it’s worth asking for their recommendation.

Right-sizing the format

Choosing the right card size doesn’t just reduce material use. It can lower your postage cost too. A Christmas card won’t come close to the 100g weight limit, so size determines whether it’s charged as a Standard Letter or a Large Letter. Keeping the card and envelope under 240mm × 165mm x 5mm keeps it at the lower rate.

Smaller cards use less paper, less ink and cost less to send. This is how right-sizing is one of the simplest sustainability and cost-saving wins.

Data cleansing

People across the UK set up a mail redirection every day and Christmas is exactly when an out-of-date address turns into a wasted card. Data cleansing removes duplicates, gone-aways and deceased records before printing starts.

Cleaning your list is both a sustainability measure and a cost-saving one by preventing printing and sending cards that were never going to be delivered.

Christmas dispatch deadlines by postage class

If you want your Christmas cards delivered in time, it’s important to check Royal Mail’s exact last posting dates. Then compare these with production time and each class’s typical delivery window:

A bulk mailing project typically takes three to four working days to produce and dispatch once data and stock arrive.
First Class typically delivers in one or two working days.
Second Class aims for three working days, delivering every other day (not including weekends).
Economy usually delivers in four to six working days.

Working backwards from December 25th with those windows, plus a buffer for the Christmas peak, gives you a safe date to have your data and artwork ready. Check the confirmed dates nearer the time and build in some slack either way.

Getting Christmas cards out sustainably means committing early. Our team can talk you through which wrap, stock and format suit your campaign.

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