41pounds.org

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41pounds.org
Image: 41poundslogo.jpg
Founded 2006
Headquarters Ferndale, Michigan, United States
Area served USA
Focus Environmentalism
Website http://www.41pounds.org

41pounds.org is a nonprofit environmental organization based in Ferndale, Michigan, established in 2006 by Sander DeVries, Tim Pfannes, and Shane Pfannes. It offers a for-fee service to recipients of United States postal mail which reduces the amount of unsolicited commercial mail that is delivered to each postal customer. 41pounds.org is a carbon-neutral organization [1] and provides education regarding the negative environmental effects of direct mail.[2]


Contents

[edit] Mission

41pounds.org's mission is the reduction of direct mail delivered to homes throughout the United States and, with it, reductions in the use of natural resources, [3] solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and the active support of its partner nonprofit organizations.


[edit] Distinguishing features

The organization asserts that, in order to produce and process 4 million tons of direct mail solicitations per annum, 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are consumed.[4] The organization offers educational information and a service, available to all adult recipients of United States Postal mail, which effectively reduces delivery of junk mail and enables it to contribute to community, regional, and national nonprofit organizations.

41pounds.org donates more than one-third of its subscriber fees to US charitable groups, as specified by each subscriber.[5][6]

The name of the organization derives from the estimated weight of unsolicited mail, including catalogs, financial services advertisements, and "free samples," that the United States Postal Service delivers to each postal customer annually. [7] [8]

[edit] Partners

[edit] References

  1. ^ Carbon free partner: 41 Pounds, Carbonfund.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008
  2. ^ See e.g. Green, Chuck. "The direct mail stops here: New company 41pounds.org helps people halt the deluge", Waste News, 25 September 2006. 
  3. ^ About 41pounds.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  4. ^ About 41pounds.org. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  5. ^ Giving Back. 41pounds.org. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  6. ^ "Trash Junk Mail" (October 2007). American Forests 113 (3): 17. 
  7. ^ Ben Lamothe, “Easy way to lose 41 lbs.: Shedding junk mail weight,” Oakland Business Review, Sep. 27-Oct. 3, 2007. Courtesy link from 41Pounds.org
  8. ^ NBC News Courtesy link from 41Pounds.org

[edit] External links