Getting too many catalogs in the mail this season? Put a stop to it.

It's blizzard season--a freefall of holiday catalogs in the mail. Which companies are naughty? Nice?

December 11, 2009 at 4:29PM

The environmental group ForestEthics has released a list of 21 companies that issue a lot of mail order catalogs and evaluated them in four areas: Whether or not Endangered Forests are cut to produce the company's catalogs; whether the company uses Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper; the amount of post-consumer recycled content in the company's direct mailings; and the company's efforts to reduce overall paper consumption.

Companies on the nice list meeting all 4 criteria: Timberland, Patagonia, REI, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Crate & Barrel, Dell, Williams Sonoma and Victoria's Secret.

Companies meeting 2 to 3 of the 4 criteria: JC Penney, LL Bean, J. Crew, HSBC, Capital One, Bank of America, Lands' End and American Express.

Companies on the naughty list meeting zero or one criteria: Sears, Neiman Marcus, Eddie Bauer, Citi and Chase.

Consumers can choose what kinds of unsolicited mail they want to stop. It can take five weeks to five months to take effect, but here are ways to end the flurry: Call the catalog's 800 number to stop future mailings. Stop credit card solicitations at 1-888-567-8688 or www.optoutprescreen.com, which gives the option to opt out for
five years or permanently. Stop receiving mail addressed to "resident" or "occupant" via
ADVO at www.advo.com/consumersupport.html or 1-888-241-6760. For
Val-Pak mailings, go to www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm or call 1-800-237-6266. Contact the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference
Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, N.Y.
10512 or at www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist ($1 fee online).

about the writer

about the writer

John Ewoldt

Reporter

John Ewoldt is a business reporter for the Star Tribune. He writes about small and large retailers including supermarkets, restaurants, consumer issues and trends, and personal finance.  

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