June 4, 2007

USPS Touts Higher Environmental Standards

The U.S. Postal Service has received cradle to cradle certification at the silver level from MBDC for human and environmental health. According to USPS, it’s the only mailing or shipping company in the nation to receive this certification. 

To receive the certification, MBDC reviews specific criteria to assess the environmental attributes of materials used in products. MBDC examined 60 packaging items, breaking those items down to 250 component materials and then further analyzing 1,400 individual ingredients in those component materials before awarding the certification.

To achieve certification, all 200 suppliers contributing to the manufacture of Postal Service envelopes and packages completed a series of measurements and assessments of materials for human and environmental health. Maintaining these new standards is now an integral part of doing business with the Postal Service.

Based on the recycled content of the more than 500 million Express Mail and Priority Mail packages and envelopes the Postal Service provides its customers each year, more than 15,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions now will be prevented annually. Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes and envelopes also are 100 percent recyclable.

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