News

Businesses will be able to boost the green credentials of their mailing campaigns because of a "major breakthrough" in environmental envelopes.

Royal Mail has approved its first fully biodegradable window envelope, which could help businesses in their efforts to recycle the more than 100bn such envelopes used each year in Europe.

Envirlope's transparent window is paper-based rather than plastic, which makes the product 100% recyclable and biodegradable.

Produced by UK company Mail and Print Services (MPS), the envelope is made from a cellulose-based wood pulp and is EN 13432 approved.

The North Somerset-based supplier said raw materials have been sourced from forests that meet the Sustainable Forestry Initiative standard, which means that more trees are replanted than those harvested and no endangered hardwoods are used.

MPS managing director Rob Fagnani said: "Envirlope represents a major breakthrough as other biodegradable films have never met Royal Mail guidelines for CBC and OCR readability."

He added that the envelope has also been approved by postal authorities in America and France.