A REDDITCH-based firm is the first in the UK to use 100 per cent recyclable envelopes.

Adare SEC has become the UK’s first postal services provider to commit to using window envelopes that are 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable.

The company’s Adare Post service uses around 115 million envelopes a year to deliver its clients’ communications, all of which previously included a plastic-based window.

Due to the windows, the regular envelopes created around 30 tonnes of plastic landfill waste every 12 months.

To address the issue, the firm has partnered with French envelope manufacturer Pocheco to convert to a fully recyclable and biodegradable product, made from pulp which is entirely biodegradable.

Tom Prestwich, from the company, said: “Continually improved sustainability is one of our key business objectives, and an ideal that is shared by our clients.

“By being the first communications solutions provider in the UK to use 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable envelopes, our Adare Post service is leading the way in reducing the environmental impact of the postal process.

“We are totally committed to finding new and innovative ways to further enhance our sustainability. It is essential if we are to achieve our objective of becoming one of the world’s most sustainable communications solutions companies.”

The way the envelopes are delivered to Adare SEC’s sites also reduces the carbon footprint created by importing them from France by almost 60 per cent.

This is because the envelopes are delivered in wooden crates that can be reused and most importantly stacked, reducing the number of journeys made from France to the UK from seven per month to just three.

The firm's clients include financial services company Allianz, multinational commercial bank Santander.