Cradle to Cradle Certification

The new environmentally friendly program set in place by the USPS is the first of its kind for the shipping industry. Earning their official “Cradle to Cradle” Certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), the USPS has surpassed federal EPA requirements for using recycled materials and now stands to save more than 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions (greenhouse gases) per year. The Cradle to Cradle program developed by MBDC is defined as “a unique vision and leadership strategy for industry to realize practical, profitable ecologically-intelligent product design and expand the definition of quality.” Cradle to Cradle products are 100% renewable, versus "cradle to grave" products that eventually end up in landfills. In order to meet the qualification standards, the USPS had to alter the environmental attributes of the materials it used for its Express and Priority Mail packaging. All 500 million such packages used per year will now be 100% recyclable and meet the demands of the Cradle to Cradle program.

In order to meet these requirements, the USPS needed to work with its over 200 suppliers that contribute to the production of its packing and verify that all contents going into these products met MBDC standards for human and environmental health. Strict criteria was used to assess contents’ impact, including toxicity, renewable energy, water stewardship, and recyclability, amongst other manufacturing specifics.

More Than Just a Priority

Beyond just Express and Priority Mail packaging, the USPS has also worked to ensure that an additional 200 million pieces of commonly used mailing supplies in U.S. post offices also meet the Cradle to Cradle criteria. These products, including decals, labels and packing tape, were evaluated for their use of inks, adhesives, and paper.

In their pursuit to improve sustainable manufacturing practices, the USPS has set a very high benchmark for other companies to follow. “We are very excited by the launch of Cradle to Cradle certified Express Mail and Priority Mail packaging,” said William McDonough, MBDC cofounder. “I would like to recognize the Postal Service’s leadership in gaining Cradle to Cradle Certification, being on a positive trajectory to becoming more sustainable, and helping their customers make smarter choices. This is the first major national and international product to gain MBDC’s certification that is used by consumers every day.”

Along with changing the contents and manufacturing of packaging to obtain the Cradle to Cradle certification, the USPS has also redesigned it Express and Priority Mail packaging to cut back on the number of different mailing products its customers need to use (therefore cutting back on the number of different mailing products the USPS needs to produce). This aim to further reduce potential waste and unnecessary manufacturing propels the USPS beyond merely doing enough to get the Cradle to Cradle Certification. It elevates them as bold and aggressive leaders in the growing need to re-evaluate our impact on the environment. In a highly competitive shipping and delivery market, it is certainly a smart business investment as more and more consumers are choosing more earth-friendly alternatives. Preserving resources, reducing waste, limiting environmental impact, and saving money is surely something we all can put our stamp of approval on.