The campaign is currently reviewing the claims of EcoVoice, which seeks to reduce ‘junk mail’ volumes and “save water and paper used in printing the catalogues”.
APIA said in an email: “This organisation suggests that ending all catalogue printing and reading them online – through EcoVoice of course – will aid the environment.”
“Unfortunately, in making its claims, EcoVoice does not compare the environmental impacts of its online services with the environmental performance of the paper and print industries. Because Keep Australia Beautiful’s important work benefits from Eco Voice, we are trying to work with them to fix this particular problem.”
The announcement comes as APIA chairman Bernard Cassell (pictured) continued his correspondence with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to outline the industry’s “serious and growing concern at the breadth and depth of false and misleading statements made about the sustainability of paper-based communications”.
In a letter to ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel, Cassell declared: “By way of general example, APIA’s member companies constantly advise of companies who claim or imply in their public communications that they are assisting the environment by switching from paper based statements or invoices to electronic statements or invoices.”
Cassell added that the campaign would begin adopting a ‘sample-based approach’ in petitioning the ACCC, rather than “taking a piecemeal approach and making individual complaints to the Commission each time we become aware of instances that give rise to legitimate complaint”.
Meanwhile, industry heavyweights IPMG and PMP have made undisclosed financial contributions to the campaign.
Last month, GAMAA announced it would donate $15,000 to the campaign, while GASAA has committed a portion of revenues from this month’s Printworks exhibition to the campaign. Printing Industries has also donated to the campaign.
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