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Towards a greener planet

Connecting the world through postcards brings happiness to our lives, but it also has an impact on our planet. From operating the servers that host this project to transporting postcards or other items through the mail, precious resources like paper and oil are used, and CO₂ is produced. The increase of CO₂ levels in the atmosphere is one of the causes of climate change.

We are committed to minimizing Postcrossing's ecological footprint, and you can help too!

What we do

Lowering our carbon footprint

Postcrossing's servers are hosted in a carbon-neutral data center run by Amazon AWS. Amazon is committed to using renewable energies, building wind and solar farms to power their activities. You can learn more about Amazon AWS sustainability practices on their website.

With the launch of the Postcrossing Shop in 2024, we have committed to contribute 1% of the sales to carbon removal projects. And, where available, a CO₂ offsetting shipping option is offered.

Although Postcrossing is a very small organization, we believe that every action counts, so our office only uses energy from renewable sources, and all lighting is done with efficient LED lamps.

Postcrossing's tiny forest

To help reduce its impact on the environment, Postcrossing regularly donates to environmental causes and helps fund sustainable energy projects. In the past, we have contributed to carbon-offsetting initiatives. Our latest contributions have been towards planting indigenous trees in central Portugal to help reforest a large forest that burned down in 2017.

In 2019, a group of postcrossers got together and planted 1000 pine trees! Again in 2020, despite the rainy weather, postcrossers rolled up their sleeves and planted hundreds more.

After a two-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2023, over 700 additional pine trees were planted by a group of brave postcrossers, increasing Postcrossing's tiny forest. And, in 2024, several postcrossers went for a bold new record with over 3300 pine trees planted in a single morning!

What you can do

So, how can you help make Postcrossing a greener hobby? Here are a few tips from postcrossers:

Choose postcards made of recycled paper or postcards made with fiber from sustainable forests. For instance, FSC-certified paper.
Walk, or ride your bike, to take your mail to the post office or postbox.
Where available, consider buying postage that offsets the carbon emissions of delivering your mail.
When sending your postcards, avoid using envelopes. If you must use them, try to reuse old envelopes (it can be fun!), or prefer those made from recycled paper.
Use refillable pens, highlighters, etc.
Print on both sides of the paper, or reuse old sheets to print things for personal use.
When wrapping objects, reuse gift paper. Be creative! You can use old maps, newspapers, pages from magazines, etc.
Where possible, get your electricity from a company that provides it from sustainable energy sources such as wind, solar or hydropower.
Support an environmental organization.

By making little choices like the ones suggested above, you, too, are contributing to making Postcrossing a greener hobby.

Comments and suggestions are welcome on the forum.