Going Paperless & Going Green

Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

—Warren Buffett

Green Messaging• Consumers increasingly make choices based on their desire to lessen

their personal—and household—impact on the environment and have embraced the concept that individual action can collectively lead to real impact on the environment.

• Consumer behavior change occurs when an individual recognizes a clear choice between options—such as an action that offsets or sequesters the same or more carbon dioxide than is emitted. Electronic payments are inherently “green.” However, this may not yet be intuitive and clear to customers.

• Customers are willing to pay to reduce pollution; however, they are more likely to adopt a tactic that is both easy and either free or inexpensive (CBS News, New York Times findings released by Environmental and Energy Study Institute May 2007

Paperless Transactions• The use of paperless transactions is a quantifiable

“green” event. – The environmental benefit can be shown in five main

areas—wood fiber, greenhouse gas emissions, water, fuel, and waste.

– Businesses can be a good steward of the environment by promoting the use of electronic bills, statements, and payments to our customers.

Calculating the Resource Benefits

• Use the PayItGreen Business Calculator atwww.payitgreen.org/business.

• Plug in your numbers and see the approximate resources conserved and pollution prevented as a result.

• Example: If electronic bill and payment adoption creates a decrease of <number> paper used and mailed annually, the positive effect on the environment would be <business calculator outputs>.

• By bundling services into one electronic bill or statement, if applicable, you can provide even better customer service.

ROC - The Economic Benefit• For each paper invoice and check remitted,

conversion to electronic billing and payment would save $x.xx annually. (Savings can be calculated from printing mailing, bank fees, RPS cost, or card fees.)

• For each paper invoice and check remitted, conversion to electronic billing and credit card would increase cost $xx.xx annually due to the high cost of card processing (based on a $100 invoice).

• Electronic billing and payments have additional benefits, including an increase in customer self service.

Next Steps• Assess

– Discuss feasibility of integrating PayItGreen messages

– Evaluate PayItGreen Membership

– Develop a marketing plan and determine opportunities

– Include requirements from IT and business

– Launch a campaign

• Act

– Find implementation resources at www.payitgreen.org/business

Next Steps• Measure– Understand and account for your market variables– Determine pre-PayItGreen metrics– Set a reasonable PayItGreen campaign goal– Track your progress– Translate the metrics to your business