Do something meaningful this Christmas
An Exeter based collaborative between graphic designers Future Imaging and web developers Web Engineer has attracted national charity partnerships for their website http://www.DontSendMeACard.com
The site allows users to redirect funds to worthy causes from the millions of pounds spent annually in the UK on posting Christmas cards.
Users create a page and ask friends and family to post their Christmas wishes online and make donations for what they would have spent on sending them cards.
Those fundraising can designate that the costs go directly to the environmental charity Trees for Cities, where they can plant a tree with every £5 received, or to The Honeypot Children’s Charity, where for every £20 received a vulnerable child can receive a Christmas present.
Founder Alex Furness explains that, “It’s a really easy way to do something meaningful this Christmas. Plus you’re not putting loved ones out of pocket as they would have spent money on cards and postage for you anyway.”
According to a study performed by The Centre for Business and Climate Solutions at Exeter University for DontSendMeACard.com, the carbon footprint for each greetings card sent is 140g CO2e. That equates every billion cards being sent in the UK (we buy 2bn) to manufacturing 5882 medium sized cars.
“Not everyone loves cards,” says Alex. “From our Facebook page comments there is a clear divide between those who find it unfathomable to not send a card, and those who think they’re a waste of paper and agree that the money could be better spent.”
Alex adds “You don’t have to run a marathon and harass everyone to dig into his or her pockets. If they were going to buy you a card you’re actually making their life easier by asking for a quick donation via PayPal instead of going out and selecting one, finding a stamp and posting it on time.”
Alex concludes, “Put up last years cards and join us in encouraging a cultural shift towards collectively doing something good with the cost of cards”.
