Did you get too many unwanted sales catalogs in 2012? Help us convince three catalog companies to make fewer, greener, and smaller catalogs in 2013!

We are a group of fourth and fifth grader kids from The Park School in Massachusetts who want to help the environment. Isabel says, “Greener catalogs = a cleaner earth!” Each year we have a Catalog Canceling Challenge to cancel unwanted catalogs. Our school canceled 4,681 last November! We do this because unwanted catalogs waste trees, water, and energy. They also cause pollution. Do you know how many catalogs are made every second? 600! Only 2% are used! Colin asks, “Can catalog companies help by making fewer, greener, and smaller catalogs?”

FEWER - Dear Lands’ End, Caroline thinks more people could shop online instead of searching through a paper catalog. Then they don’t have to worry about recycling them or even worse throwing them away! Why don’t more shoppers go online? It’s faster. Catalogs waste money too because in peoples’ everyday taxes and bills, they pay for their town’s trash removal! Lands’ End, give people a choice! Do you need to send out over 100 million per year? Emma says, “Less catalogs = more trees and smiles!” Fewer catalogs please.

GREENER - Dear American Girl Doll, a smart way to be more environmentally friendly is to have green paper. That means 100% recycled content, or at least 30%! Sarah, Sami, and Sydney are proud of you for having 10%, but more wouldn’t hurt. Or if you use wood to make paper, make sure it’s from “sustainably harvested” trees. L.L. Bean is good at this. Kids like your dolls, but you send out basically the same catalog each month. Vikrum asks, “Could you be more like the Lego catalog that only sends two per year?” You’ll make us proud and aware with this leadership! Fewer catalogs and using only recycled paper would be best!

SMALLER - Dear Restoration Hardware, another green idea is to use thinner paper and have smaller catalogs. The font will definitely help these catalogs be smaller because if you have big fonts and pictures then you need to pack things in the catalog, the catalog is big itself, and uses more resources. This is why smaller and thinner catalogs are important to make instead of big, thick catalogs. “Your catalog is 992 pages!!!” Abby and her dad scream! What a waste! Making catalogs smaller would be best!

EVEN SMALLER! - Lands’ End, American Girl Doll, and Restoration Hardware, our last and best idea is, as Aria says, “Instead of sending out whole catalogs, just send a small flyer that could say your website on it.” It could also have an “opt-in” postcard with a box to check “yes” if they actually want a catalog. Give them a choice. Aria continues,”You will make kids and parents happy by going green!” These ideas will get people to shop at your store and help the planet.

Zoe and Ambrey want you to know, “The three R’s go in order from best to worst. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. We can always recycle our catalogs, but we should do better. We cannot reuse catalogs in a sufficient way, so that doesn't work. Let’s REDUCE the nineteen billion catalogs mailed out each year.” Abby adds, “Help our planet, help the lives of others, and help your own children and grandchildren!” Let’s save natural resources! Priya says,”You are a leader, be green!” Charlotte states, “Only you can slow these catalogs from coming.” Make fewer, greener, and smaller catalogs...PLEASE!!!