Letters from Santa Claus this year are for the first time touting the virtues of being green.

Canada Post's Fred Danells, who helps Santa answer his mail, confirmed that he is including green messages in his epistles for the first time this year.

"Certainly, Santa wouldn't be able to survive without being sensitive to the environment in which he lives," Danells said.

A letter sent to Lizzie and Stewart Batho of Prince George, B.C., reads: "I'm always amazed how beautiful our planet is and how much I wish to protect it. Mrs. Claus always packs my cookies in my favourite reusable lunch bag."

Stuart and Lizzie agreed that Santa's messages are a good idea.

"It's a good idea [to carry] a lunch bag, because we don't want litter everywhere," Lizzie said. "It's not healthy for the town."

Meanwhile, members of the North American Aerospace Defense Command have issued a notice about a change to Santa's flight schedule, saying he will be leaving the North Pole at 6 a.m. ET — two hours later than usual.

"For the past six years Santa has launched from the North Pole two hours earlier than he intends this year," Maj. Stacia Reddish, NORAD Tracks Santa program manager, said in a release.

"Although we are not 100 per cent certain of the reason behind the later departure, it may be due to the bedtime hour for youngsters around the world. In years past, Santa has often times had to circle back around since many of the children were not asleep when he visited them the first time."