DCB gets community recycling Christmas cards

DCB Group has launched a recycling initiative to reduce Christmas card waste in its local area while capping off its 10th year in business.

From Friday (7 December), DCB has offered up its own postal address as a place where businesses in the Greater Manchester area can send or drop off their Christmas cards throughout December and January in order to be recycled after use.

Every tonne of waste received will see DCB donate £50 to Forever Manchester, a local charity which raises money to fund and support community activity in the area.

DCB managing director Victoria Hart said: “Sustainability is at our core as a business, this is just another step for us to show our dedication to improving our environmental impact and doing so with the help of our neighbouring businesses.

“We know the future of the industry is bright and the need for print is going nowhere, so we continue to invest in new machinery that cuts down energy consumption. We tailor the routes for our vans in order to be as fuel efficient as possible.

“We are reflecting on a monumental year – it was our 10th anniversary this year and we were the first business in the North West to be awarded BPIF Business Seal of Excellence after being awarded seals of excellence in HR, environment, and health and safety earlier in the year.”

More than 1 billion Christmas cards are sold in the UK each year, and Hart started the scheme after thinking about the vast number that are likely to not be recycled after use.

Forever Manchester is now officially a charity partner of DCB.

DCB Group, based out of Trafford Park, Manchester, comprises marketing company Caspa, print production firm Aspen and print manager Print Search. It offers all-round communications services and now employs 48 members of staff with a £6.5m turnover.

It came into being in 2008 when owner David Charles Beale bought Print Search, with the acquisitions of Caspa and Aspen following shortly after.

The firm has an eco-garden on the premises which offers staff an opportunity for downtime and to grow their own produce. Hart said she hoped to develop this further when the weather improves in the spring next year.