Using an SMS service to replace traditional paper-based services can give your business the environmental stamp of approval, in a big way!

Is the apocalypse upon us? Some people think it might be as soon as 2012. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen. But there is another, perhaps more immediate, threat facing us today: the impact of our carbon emissions. The polar icecaps are melting and, at this point in time, I think we’re unable to deny our own responsibility with regards to the world we live in. And to give you a bit more ‘green ammunition’, we’ll be looking at how an SMS service can help you curb your carbon emissions.

SMS Service v. Printed Media and Email

Why should you use an SMS service in the stead of traditional printed media communication? Well, let’s start with a couple of obvious reasons:

• You’ll be saving trees (a big plus)
• You’ll also be reducing the emissions produced associated with the effort involved in collecting, producing and distributing said media (quite a big one this – when you think about your own carbon footprint, do you take into account the emissions produced to supply you with your ‘eco-friendly’ products?).

The above are only two of a hundred possible reasons, but they are two BIG reasons and could help protect our dear old 3^rd rock from the sun.

But, why use an SMS service instead of, for instance, email? Well, the immediate nature of SMS allows you to reach your customers while they are on the move wherever there’s mobile coverage. That’s one possible reason.

Another possible reason is that some of your customers will most probably pay more attention to an SMS than they would to your traditional marketing mail. No offense, but you have to admit that an email message today doesn’t command your attention as much as it did a couple of years ago, most probably due to a numbing of the senses by something we all know and hate as SPAM. The benefit of an SMS service, and SMS in general, is that it’s a service that’s much more controllable than email and requires the permission of the recipient of the mobile message, thereby ensuring that individuals only receive the messages they actually want.

Yet, there exists another reason: as a result of all the above, SMS response rates are much better than those experienced with traditional direct mail or even email, with figures ranging from 2% up to 15% and more.

What to Use an SMS Service For?

So where can an SMS service be applied in the work place to help reduce carbon emissions?

Let’s look at the printing process for an example, assuming that the business in question already has a printer:

1. Buying paper

   1. First off, consider that between yourself and the stationer, the paper you need will have to be transported from point A to point B. The person doing the collecting or delivery will naturally have to make two trips: from point A to point B, and back again.
   2. Next up, consider the paper you are using. One tree produces approximately 119000 sheets of paper. While you’re probably not using that much, keep in mind that there are a lot of other emission-producing factors involved in producing that paper, from the felling of the tree to its pulping and the production of paper to its transport to warehouses and ultimately to your stationer.

So how much emission is involved in buying paper? Perhaps more than you might think. Here are some aspects to consider in the process:

2. Printing

Once you’ve got your paper, it’s time to print to ensure that business goes forward. Possible emissions associated with this process include the printing of the paper as well as the making and transport of the ink. Adding all these up, even the simple act of printing can become a costly experience in terms of emissions.

3. Delivery

Now that you’re all printed and ready to go, let’s consider the emissions involved in getting your material distributed to your target market.

Whichever route you take, you’ll have to depend on someone to deliver your printed material. This can either be your kid nephew in need of an extra couple of quid, or the postman. If it’s the latter, consider the fact that an envelope has to follow roughly the same process as the paper you are going to be printing on. Oh, and the stamps, naturally.

See where we’re going with this?

That being said, let’s take a look at the possible emissions associated with sending an SMS:

1. Typing the SMS up in Word.
2. Using the appropriate API to send the SMS.
3. Um, hoping your contact’s phone is charged?

Interested? Use SMS to reduce your carbon footprint, help save the planet and perhaps even benefit your business! Read more about SMS service now!

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Tags: carbon footprint, environmental SMS, SMS Service, SMS Services