Do you continue to use printed catalogs and flyers? Do you print the same number of catalogs each year – regardless of the trend away from print media?

If so, it is time to consider a few thoughts.

• Can you reduce the number of catalogs you print and distribute? Think about it. Ask your sales force. Talk to your clients. How many catalogs do you send off to be recycled at the end of each year? You can probably cut out at least 20% next year.

• Does every prospect get the same catalog? Have you considered a simple one page flyer for trade shows instead of the full line catalog? I have witnessed countless numbers of trade show attendees dump out pounds of catalogs at the airport so they do not exceed weight limitations for their luggage.

• Can you offer a digital solution? Many of my clients use recycled USB flash drives with their full line catalog pre-loaded onto them. Imagine the cost savings to having catalogs on-demand on a flash drive. Your cost per catalog might be higher initially, but your overall savings will be substantial. Plus, as a green company, don’t you want to continue to brand and promote your green image?

• Promote your website at every opportunity. Your website should be prominently featured on everything you hand out—from business cards, flyers, catalogs – even you promotional products. Every person who uses your website is one less catalog you need to print.

• Have your catalog and flyers available in downloadable PDF files on your website. Imagine how much paper you’d save by sending prospects and clients a link to those files instead of mailing a catalog, to say nothing about postage and time savings.

• Consider the global footprint of your catalogs. Get them printed locally. Use only recycled paper. Print them with soy inks and try to get paper that is FSC certified.

• You will continue to need some printed catalogs, as people are still creatures of habit. But promote the environmental impact of your catalog in terms of savings compared to using virgin paper. We use the environmental impact estimates of the Environmental Defense Fund. We note the following benefits of our catalog being printed on recycled paper, showing number of trees saved, amount of energy saved in terms of BTU, amount of water saved in gallons, greenhouse gases not sent up through smokestacks in terms of pounds of carbon dioxide, and the amount of solid waste saved in terms of pounds.

Think twice before printing your next catalogs. As a green company, there are always ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Practice what you preach.

Make Every Day Earth Day.

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Robert Piller, experienced in green marketing campaigns and environmentally-friendly promotional products. His web site includes a comprehensive eco-friendly advertising specialty search, featuring over 250,000 eco promotional items in all price ranges, for any business or organization interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find recyclable, biodegradable, organic or recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame. View the Go Green website at EcoMarketingSolutions.com and comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com.