How consumers can contribute to climate protection by avoiding unwanted advertising in their mailboxes.

How consumers can contribute to climate protection by avoiding unwanted advertising in their mailboxes.

According to a report by www.fr.de, the article shows that unwanted mailbox advertising is a significant waste problem and contributes to climate change. Deutsche Umwelthilfe calls for an end to this unwanted advertising waste and calls on trade and industry to take responsibility. According to studies by the DHU, 407,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents could be saved nationwide by avoiding unwanted advertising.

In addition, in addition to the “massive consumption of water, energy and chemicals, up to 847,000 trees could be felled” for the advertising mail produced in Germany. The experts are therefore calling for digital alternatives and point out that the majority of consumers consider printed advertising brochures to be no longer up to date in the context of climate protection.

The consumer advice center supports the DHU's demand and reports on complaints from many consumers about the flood of advertising and overfilled mailboxes. They recommend strategies such as the “no advertising” sign on the mailbox, the Robinson list, or asking companies in writing to stop sending advertising material to counteract this. Another approach is to provide companies with as little information as possible in order to effectively prevent advertising in the mailbox.

The impact of these measures on the market could mean that companies increasingly turn to digital advertising to provide a more sustainable solution. In addition, consumers could be more conscious about their data and question the handling of advertising material more critically.

It remains to be seen whether concrete legal measures will be taken to counteract the unwanted advertising material. It also remains to be seen whether companies will actively opt for more sustainable advertising measures and whether consumers will increasingly turn to digital alternatives.