Calm Asylum, based on the Riverside East Industrial Park in Middlesbough, decided enough was enough and launched a campaign to ban workplace Christmas cards.

To rally support for the cause the company has joined forces with Cornerstone Business Solutions, on Teesside Industrial estate in Stockton.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that 1bn Christmas cards end up in bins across the UK each Christmas. With this in mind, Calm Asylum, introduced an online Christmas card called the ‘Advent Calendar' that hopes to eliminate unnecessary waste.

Mark Easby, director, said: "Every year businesses send out hundreds of Christmas cards, if not more. Unfortunately many of which are pilled up to one side while only a lucky few make it to the office reception or pined around doorways. Some even go unopened.

"With the UK's green agenda growing in importance we wanted to show companies there is a cost effective alternative that keeps consciences green. We are targeting companies now to catch them when they are least thinking about Christmas as we hope this will bring the eco-message home."

One business man who has already welcomed this move is Chris Petty, director or Cornerstone Business Solutions: "Businesses look for ways to improve communications with their clients; often this involves streamlining processes, while increasing interactivity and engagement.

"For me office Christmas cards, in the traditional hard copy format, are almost redundant now as more and more people go online to communicate.

"Online cards also play a greater strategic part with customers as they are able to engage with them in ways traditional cards cannot - making them more memorable. Customers also like to know companies support the green agenda so it ticks the boxes on many levels."