La Poste launches green letter stamp

FROM tomorrow La Poste is launching a new “eco-friendly” stamp – and has a new “online letter”.

The new “green letter” rate will take two days for delivery rather than one with the standard lettre prioritaire.

The stamp (57 centimes instead of 60) shows a green-coloured Marianne against a leaf shape and says “lettre verte” – because the slower delivery rate means it does not have to be sent by airmail, with its connotations of fuel-guzzling.

In fact, though the new stamp is being released with a big fanfare, it comes on top of an existing “green” option, the grey 55 centimes écopli stamp, which takes up to four days – making for a three-speed post.

Also new at La Poste is the lettre en-ligne which allows you to deposit digital documents to be turned into a letter and posted for you.

It aims to be even faster than traditional post, with a cut-off time of 19.00 for delivery next day.

Available both for postings to France or elsewhere, it starts from 99 centimes for one black and white page with writing on a single side, in France. The equivalent for the rest of Europe is e1.16.

Other variables which add to the cost include up to four pages, the possibility to have printing on both sides of the paper, colour printing and an optional address page if your letter does not have the destination address on the top right.

To work out what your letter would cost see Tariffs