Submitted: The Two Sides Team November 21, 2012

“Think before you print” has become an almost universal mantra, and with good reason. Individuals and companies must be mindful of the use of resources, including paper. But unlike some resources, paper and the trees they are sourced from are renewable, and sustainable management and use can be achieved.
November 13 2012

by Tricia Heinz, Avon’s Calling Blog

“Think before you print” has become an almost universal mantra, and with
good reason. Individuals and companies must be mindful of the use of
resources, including paper. But unlike some resources, paper and the
trees they are sourced from are renewable, and sustainable management
and use can be achieved. Today more trees are grown than harvested in the US and, according to the US Forest Service,
we now have essentially the same amount of forestland as we did 100
years ago even though our population has tripled during this time. The
paper industry, which needs a reliable source of fiber supply to remain
viable, promotes sustainable forestry
through the purchase and use of certified wood fiber. To advance
forestry management practices that keep US forests vibrant, healthy and
sustainable, the paper industry partners with forest certification
organizations, customers like Avon, and private landowners. Currently,
some 65% of the energy
used to produce US pulp and paper comes from renewable, carbon-neutral
biofuels, and two-thirds of all paper used in the US is recovered for recycling, according to the American Forest and Paper Association.

These are important facts for Avon because paper is a meaningful
factor in our business. As a direct seller – without “brick and mortar”
stores – the Avon brochure (our product catalog) is the cornerstone of
our brand. The brochure is the “store” that showcases our products and
serves as a vital link between millions of independent Avon Sales
Representatives and their customers around the world.Print materials such as the Avon brochure still have a role to play. A
2009 study by Avon in partnership with market research firm MediaVest
found that print is the most trusted source for beauty and fashion
information among people aged 18 to 34. In addition to using print,
however, Avon is embracing technology across the more than 100 markets
in which we do business, including a robust and growing online presence,
virtual brochures, mobile phone order placement and some markets that
are virtually paperless. But consumers still value print for its many
benefits, including its tactile nature, portability and longevity.

Within our business model, we don’t take paper for granted. First,
Avon does NOT mail product brochures to consumers. We are a direct
selling company, not direct mail. Independent Avon Sales Representatives
order from Avon the quantity of brochures needed to serve their
customers in each sales campaign, and the Sales Representative delivers
these brochures directly. We also have an important policy, the Avon Paper Promise,
that commits us to reduce our overall use of paper and to maximize the
use sustainably sourced paper. For our product brochures, approximately
80% of the paper already meets this standard. Responsibly produced and
used paper has many advantages over other nonrenewable alternative
materials, as outlined in the World Wildlife Fund, Guide to Buying Paper.

And, last but not least, Avon is actively committed to helping end
deforestation. Around the world we are raising funds and awareness to
help restore the tropical forests of Indonesia and the Atlantic Rain
Forest of Brazil – two critically endangered ecosystems – through our
global Hello Green Tomorrow project. So far, in three years we raised over $4.5 million and restored thousands of acres!

We invite you to continue to enjoy paper thoughtfully and remember to reduce, reuse and recycle.

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