PAS 2020

Produced by BSi British Standards, PAS 2020 is the first independently-accredited environmental standard to provide the direct marketing industry with the means for certifying the environmental performance of a direct marketing campaign.

PAS 2020 provides the answers to three important questions that the industry’s practitioners and clients face as the environment becomes a pressing priority for direct marketing.
These are:

Q: What should I be doing to be environmentally sensitive?
A: Comply with PAS 2020.

Q: How can direct marketers communicate the fact they are following best environmental
practice without falling into the ‘green wash’ trap?
A: Tell your stakeholders that you comply with PAS 2020.

Q: How will policymakers know that the direct marketing industry is fulfilling its environmental
obligations?
A: We, the DMA, will keep the policymakers fully informed.

How can I get hold of a copy of PAS 2020?

All DMA members have received a complimentary copy of PAS 2020. Non-DMA members can purchase the standard for £80 from the BSi’s website: www.bsigroup.com/pas2020.

How will PAS 2020 help make my business environmentally sensitive?

PAS 2020 establishes a set of environmental objectives, performance levels and indicators which set out how to create and manage an environmentally-responsible direct marketing campaign. The standard establishes a set of environmental objectives, performance levels and indicators which set out how to create and manage an environmentally-sustainable direct marketing campaign.

PAS 2020 is applicable to all organisations involved in direct marketing, regardless of their size or complexity. Whether a DM agency or client, the standard will provide immense value for every kind of business. Adopting PAS 2020, or requiring suppliers to be PAS 2020-accredited, will give confidence that wastage is being cut from budgets and will prove that an organisation is equipped to deal with the costly environmental challenges that face the DM industry.

What do I need to do to achieve PAS 2020 accreditation?

The road to PAS 2020 certification starts with modifying current practices and procedures in line with the provisions of the standard. This won’t be too difficult for organisations that already have environmental management systems in place, such as ISO: 9000 and ISO: 14001. Depending on the size and scope of the operation, certification will only be granted once an organisation’s campaigns, department or company have been externally audited. When certification is granted, the organisation is entitled to bear the PAS 2020 logo on all marketing and communications collateral.

The DMA and affiliate organisations will provide comprehensive assistance to facilitate certification at minimal cost. This will include a number of online support tools, the first of which has been launched by greenDM, which helps organisations calculate its PAS 2020 score prior to auditing. Please visit their website to learn more: www.greendm.co.uk.

Regional launch seminars

Free PAS 2020 launch seminars are being held across the country, with key speakers from BSI, Royal Mail and DMA. Please visit the events section to view upcoming seminars.