Royal Mail is the first postal operator in the world to produce FSC certified postage stamps. Royal Mail has collaborated with WWF UK to produce two commemorative stamp sets to celebrate the UN’s International Year of Forests and WWF’s 50th anniversary.
Each stamp depicts one of the many species involved in WWF conservation projects around the world. The ten animals featured are the Siberian tiger, polar bear, African elephant, mountain gorilla, Iberian lynx, red panda, black rhinoceros, African wild dog, golden lion tamarin and Amur leopard. The WWF set of stamps also includes a miniature sheet of four stamps featuring the Amazon Rainforest.
The elephant and tiger stamps are both Intelligent Stamps. Using image recognition technology, smartphone users (iPhone 3G/4 or Android) can scan these stamps to view exclusive WWF endangered species video footage narrated by BAFTA award winning actress, and WWF Ambassador, Miranda Richardson. This footage can also be seen by using smartphones to scan the elephant and tiger stamp images on WWF posters around the UK.
However, Royal Mail’s commitment to FSC goes beyond these special issues. All Royal Mail stamps will soon be printed on FSC certified paper. All special stamp sheets already carry the FSC label, look out for stamp books and stamp sheets carrying the label from this autumn. A special set of stamps to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics, available next year, will also carry the FSC label, helping to ensure that the event is truly sustainable.
“We are delighted that Royal Mail has taken this momentous step to print all their stamps on FSC certified paper. This is a very welcome commitment to sustainable forestry. The change will also give great exposure to the FSC label as it will appear on the stamp booklets. There are many occasions when we all use paper without even thinking about it. Stamps are just one example and we hope that other companies will be encouraged to follow Royal Mail’s lead” said Charles Thwaites, Executive Director of FSC UK.
