Web-based account management service provider Manila launches 2012 Paper Diet, offers pledge, competition challenging consumers to reduce paper use in exchange for digital alternatives

Kendall Sinclair

NEW YORK , January 11, 2012 (press release) – Manilla, a free service that offers the best way for consumers to manage their bills and accounts online and via mobile applications, launched today the 2012 Paper Diet, a campaign to help consumers and businesses reduce their use of paper. Manilla has set a goal for Americans to "lose" more than 1 million pounds and 4 million inches of paper, while saving 8,500 trees. The best individual paper dieter will receive prizes that support a more paperless lifestyle.

In order to achieve their paper weight loss goals, consumers and businesses can take the 2012 Paper Diet Pledge by posting a digital badge on Facebook. Like with any diet, participants can only lose weight if they dramatically decrease what they consume. In this case, it's paper. If Americans opt out of getting physical catalogs in exchange for digital delivery, they will be halfway closer to achieving their paper weight loss goal. They can lose the other half by changing their mail habits, such as electing to go paperless with direct mail, bills and account statements.

Because all of this information is available online through Manilla -- which provides expedited digital mail delivery -- it has never been easier to lose paper weight. With Manilla, users have all of their important account information in one place online, giving paper dieters a free, secure digital alternative to receiving paper mail.

The launch of the Paper Diet couldn't have come at a better time, considering many consumers are plagued by paper and paper clutter. More than one-third of Americans say they have a constant paper clutter problem, and more than half admit that the clutter has caused them at least one late fee because of a missed bill, according to a 2010 consumer study conducted by The Catalyst Group. The majority of participants said that they deal with a stack of mail at least 5 inches tall every week. Plus, the average American household receives 6.6 pounds of paper bills and statements each year, according to PayItGreen, and the average person receives 41 pounds of "junk" mail each year -- which includes catalogs, credit card applications and coupon books -- according to 41pounds.org. That is almost 50 pounds and more than 20 feet of paper invading homes every year.

Consumers can start shedding paper pounds by using Manilla to suppress paper bills and statements. "Manilla is thrilled to empower and promote a more paperless lifestyle for Americans," said Jessica Insalaco, the chief marketing officer of Manilla. "Manilla and our supporters, such as AT&T, Citibank, Comcast and DIRECTV, are all proud to provide technological advancements, winning user experiences and environmental leadership for our customers. We thank them for their support."

The dieter who loses the most paper weight will receive a Paperless Toolbox, which will include an iPad, an iPad pen, a Kindle, Paperless Post stamps and a shredder. For more information on the Paper Diet and how you can take the pledge, please visit ThePaperDiet.com.


About Manilla

Manilla is a free web-based service that helps consumers better manage all of their household accounts, including financial, utilities, subscriptions and travel rewards programs, in one secure place online. Under a single password, Manilla gives customers an automated, organized view of all of their account information, text and email reminders to pay bills, and unlimited storage of account documents that Manilla has seamlessly retrieved for the consumer. Manilla is a company incubated within and backed by the Hearst Corporation, one of the most diversified private media companies in the world, and is led by an executive team of experts and innovators from the finance, technology and consumer products industries. Manilla was recently named as one of Time Inc.'s "10 NYC Startups to Watch." For more information, please visit www.manilla.com .

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