Providing sustainability for our customers

Like many Americans, you may have begun 2021 with a renewed interest in sustainability. Gardening, hiking, enjoying the beauty of nature — and of course, our favorite letter writing — are all pastimes experiencing renewed popularity. These “old school” interests are returning many to a resource that has been around since before the country began — the U.S. Mail.

These days, parents are using the mail to help teach their children to write, to express themselves and to stay connected in unusual circumstances. Encouraging children to write and create cards and letters is a wonderful way to combine education with lessons on how to stay in touch with people they care about but may not be able to visit in person.

Gardening, for those who like a more literal connection with the earth, is also seeing renewed interest. Many people are looking in their own backyards for potential sources of both comfort and sustainable food. Vegetable and flower seeds can be purchased online, with postal employees playing a part in delivering a gardener’s dream.

As the face of public service in communities across the country, the Postal Service recognizes the importance of leading by example and nurturing a culture of social and environmental responsibility. To ensure that our packaging is being correctly recycled, we have added How2Recycle labels on our Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and ReadyPost packaging products. Look for them at your local Post Office location.

We deliver to every address in the United States. This gives us a special responsibility to be good neighbors.

The Postal Service regularly engages with employees, customers, suppliers and federal peers in sustainability efforts, working to improve energy efficiency, reduce water consumption and divert waste from landfills. Check out USPS Sustainability for additional information on sustainability at the Postal Service.