Sealed and Delivered

Fact

The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 212 billion pieces of mail each year. That’s billions of envelopes used! Almost all are single use, and some even include additional envelopes that are often thrown away.

Get Started

  • Do you really need new envelopes? Use old calendar or magazine pictures to build your own. Take apart an envelope to use as a template
  • You can also reuse envelopes -just cover up the addresses. Companies like MailAgain have developed  reusable envelopes that you can send out for their return mail pieces
  • Using online banking and greeting card services can reduce the amount of envelopes you need to send out

Become a Pro

  • Through your simple act of reuse, you can inspire others to do the same. Include a simple how-to guide for making your own envelopes next time you send one out to a friend
  • Encourage envelope recycling at work. Set up a recycling bin in your mail room
  • Buy recycled! Action can be the best form of advertising. Make sure to buy a brand that promotes this fact on the envelope itself. Spreading the word is just as easy as sending mail

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  1. Danny Wilson

    posted on July 20th, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    Fantastic idea, oh the unlimited possibilities....
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.

Archived Comments

  1. Terri

    posted on June 26th, 2009 at 4:43 am

    For about 5 years my friend and I have participated in our Elementary School’s workshop teaching kids to make “Fun-velopes”. We give every child 3 templates to make different sized envelopes and bring materials like old calendars, atlases, wrapping paper, paper bags, shiny ad papers found in newspapers, etc. Our program was one of the most popular in the school and kids were excited to take them home to share with siblings and friends. I also checked with the post office and they were legitimate to send as long as the address, the return address and the stamp were properly placed and legible. And we taught the kids how to correctly send “snail-mail” to people who may not have email, like grandparents.

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