Junk mail

____ environmental impact of junk mail ____ Estimated carbon footprint, loss of natural habitat potential, loss of plant and animal life potential and/or extinction potential from making, packaging, shipping and/or using these products or services. ----------- + Except for CO2 emissions, estimates are based on Habitat, Life, Extinction Formulas v2 via ecofx.org. + Estimates do not include the possible long-term ecological effects of climate change and persistent toxins. Formulas use "human appropriated net primary production (HANPP)" to "CO2 emissions" correlation. ----------- 1 kg(kilogram) = 2.2 lb(pounds)   1 m2(square meter) = 10.8 ft2(square feet) 1 km(kilometers) = .62 mi(miles)   1 liter = .26 gallons
Junk mail - 41 pounds 41 pounds is the average amount of junk mail received by the average United States consumer CO2 estimate derived from 41pounds.org #ref1 (41pounds.org estimates that the average US citizen receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year. It also estimates it can reduce an average person's junk mail by 80%-95% and carbon emissions by 92 pounds per year. This means that 41 pounds has a carbon footprint of approximately 105 pounds. This estimate was "confirmed" using the papercalculator.org -- assuming that junk mail is 50% recycled and is composed primarily of supercalendared paper.) 41 pounds of junk mail also creates about 274 gallons wastewater, consumes 5 million BTU's and creates 316 pounds solid waste. papercalculator.org	Some of the materials used to make 41 pounds of junk mail. trees, water, ink, plastic, multiple fuels	CO2 released to produce, mail and dispose of 41 pounds of junk mail. 47.6 kg 105 lb	Loss of natural habitat potential to produce, mail and dispose of 41 pounds of junk mail. 36.6 m2 396 ft2	Loss of plant and animal life potential (in natural habitat) to produce, mail and dispose of 41 pounds of junk mail. 114.2 kg 251 lb	How many pounds of junk mail it takes to trigger 1 potential species extinction. 168 million

Summaries

The CO2 emissions from 41 pounds of advertising mail received by the average United States consumer is about 47.6 kilograms (105 pounds) according to one study.#ref1 The loss of natural habitat potential from the 41 pounds of advertising mail is estimated to be 36.6 square meters (396 square feet).

References

1. http://www.41pounds.org/news/41pounds_press_release_04-13-2007_Earth_Day.pdf

Extras

41 pounds of junk mail also creates about 274 gallons wastewater, consumes 5 million BTU's and creates 316 pounds solid waste. papercalculator.org

A large percentage of junk mail is not read by anyone. http://www.coopamerica.org/PDF/WhitePaperMagazines.pdf

Globally, paper production and disposal releases three times as much climate change emissions as global aviation. Irresponsible production causes negative impacts on biodiversity and communities as well as human rights abuses in many pulp and paper producing region http://www.shrinkpaper.org/

Meanwhile, every four months, an area the size of Rocky Mountain National Park is leveled in order to produce the 100 million trees worth of junk mail that invades the mailboxes of millions of Americans each year. This production and disposal of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars and costs citizens and local governments hundreds of millions of dollars per year in collection and disposal fees. http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3436

From 41 pounds.org "Why we’re here: We started 41pounds.org because we were continually overwhelmed with unwanted and wasteful junk mail — and we found out some staggering statistics that really bothered us about how costly junk mail is to our communities and the planet. To produce and process 4 million tons of junk mail a year, 100 million trees are destroyed and 28 billion gallons of water is wasted. And, global warming gases equivalent to 9 million cars are produced. In addition, $320 million of local taxes are spent to dispose of junk mail each year instead of providing parks, libraries, health care and other valuable services. Lastly, we found out that the credit card applications and other junk mail we receive may be used in identity theft and fraud."

More from 41 pounds.org, "We realized that the bulk mailing companies have conditioned us to accept 5 to10 pieces of junk mail a day, but we could change that. So, we created a simple, affordable service that dramatically reduces the amount of junk mail that comes to our homes every day. From the start, we were excited that this service would enable thousands and thousands of people to save time, save money and help the environment — but we wanted to do more. We set up 41pounds.org as a fundraising program to raise money for community and environmental organizations that are working every day to make a difference." http://www.41pounds.org/about/

External links

wikipedia:Advertising mail