The Best Eco-friendly Stationery Brands for Sustainable Cards
There is nothing like receiving snail mail from a friend or family member. It is a tradition that has withstood the test of time, and it is one of the most personal ways to communicate whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or special event.
What if there was a way to make this already special act even more meaningful?
Eco-friendly cards are the perfect way to add a personal touch to your snail mail while also making an eco-conscious choice with the environment in mind.
Let's explore what to look for when picking out an eco-friendly card and meet some sustainable stationery brands that are great for sending a greeting in the mail.
What materials are sustainable cards made with?
Sustainable greeting cards can be made with a variety of sustainable materials, such as:
Recycled paper is a common choice for eco-friendly cards since it doesn't require any new trees to be cut down.
FSC-certified paper comes from responsibly managed forests that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Plantable seed paper is a type of paper that is made with embedded seeds. Once the card has been used and is no longer needed, it can be planted in soil and will grow into flowers or other plants!
It's also important to consider what happens to the card when the recipient is done enjoying it.
Is the card made with recyclable material?
Can it biodegrade?
Is it compostable or can it be planted?
These are good things to think about when considering which sustainable material to choose.
5 Eco-friendly Card Brands for Sustainable Greetings
If you're ready to send sustainable greetings for the next holiday season or special occasion this is list a great starting point for finding eco-friendly stationery brands.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decided to purchase. Our commission is at no additional expense to you!
Good Paper: Greeting Cards Made with Recycled Materials & Fair Trade Practices
Good Paper is on a mission to restore the human spirit through sustainable stationery.
Good Paper's work starts with their card makers - women who have escaped sex trafficking in the Philippines and young adults orphaned in Rwanda.
Good Paper cards are crafted using fair trade practices and a variety of recycled materials.
On the back of each card is the Good Paper story and signature of the person who crafted the card. Good Paper is part of the Fair Trade Federation, a third party ensuring fair trade practices through out the supply chain. Spread love with Good Paper's punny and eco-friendly cards.
After your loved ones have read your message they can even frame it and turn it into art.
Good Paper has some punny birthday cards, cards to spread holiday cheer, thank you cards, everyday cards, and more. These cards range from $5-$6.
Paper Culture: Cards Made with Recycled Paper
Paper Culture’s eco-friendly stationery matches modern design with sustainability.
Paper Culture’s cards are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper which means no trees are cut down in the process.
Each time a customer places and order, a tree is planted in one of the chosen locations.
Paper Culture’s graduation announcements
Paper Culture has planted over a million trees! Through Paper Culture’s partnerships with organizations such as the Arbor Day Foundation, Trees for the Future, & others, they are able to identify where trees will be most impactful.
We’ve used Paper Culture for our Christmas cards and wedding stationery and love their products.
Paper Culture has simple designs and modern designs including photo cards, holiday cards, birth announcements, graduation announcements, birthday invitations, and more.
Paper Culture's beautiful designs typically range in price from $1-$2 per card depending on the material and quantity.
Greenvelope: Paperless Greetings
Greenvelope encourages consumers to save paper and send e-mail greetings. Their beautiful templates feature elegant designs from independent artists.
Go tree free with these greetings to send an invitation to an event as Greenvelope has templates for wedding invitations, save the dates, baby announcements, birthday invitations, social gatherings, and more.
It's super easy to craft the invite as you just enter your loved one's e-mail address.
This eco-friendly way of sending invites is quicker too because you don't have to wait for the post office! Online cards are also usually a cheaper way to send greetings or invites.
Greenvelope's pricing structure depends on how many people you're sending the greeting to, but their packages feature a great price of less than $1 per person.
Quilling Cards: Fair Trade Stationery That is Art
These unique cards are handmade in Vietnam using tiny strips of paper that are quilled, or rolled, into a variety of shapes then attached to the card.
Each Quilling Card is a work of art with impressive details and can even be framed to be displayed and enjoyed all the time! Quilling Card artisans take great pride in their craftsmanship.
As a certified member of the Fair Trade Federation, Quilling Card has assembled three workshops in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where each design is meticulously handcrafted by one of the 300+ local artisans.
Due to the time and skilled craft of quilling these cards are a bit more expensive at $11 a card.
However, these physical cards are so beautiful they can easily be framed and turned into art to hang on the wall.
Botanical Paperworks Plantable Cards
Botanical PaperWorks crafts unique invitations, greeting cards, and business cards on their innovative eco-friendly seed paper. Botanical PaperWorks is working to reduce waste and spread beauty through their biodegradable seed paper made from post-consumer material.
Customers can choose if they want their card to have wildflower seeds or herb seeds. After planted and cared for, your card will grow into wildflowers or herbs, the recipient will always think of you when they look at that perfect addition to their garden.
Botanical PaperWorks even goes the extra mile to collect post-consumer waste from businesses and schools in their area and use the local waste as the basis for their eco-friendly, plantable seed paper.
Through this collection, Botanical PaperWorks saves the local landfill 10 tons of paper per year.
These eco-friendly greeting cards are a great zero waste option! These plantable cards typically range from $2.20-$3.50 each.
What are the benefits of sending an eco-friendly card?
There are many benefits to sending eco-friendly cards, including:
Reducing your environmental impact - By choosing to send an eco-friendly card, you are helping to reduce your overall environmental impact. This is because sustainable materials require less energy and water to produce, and they generate fewer greenhouse gases. For example recycled materials can give unwanted materials a second life.
Supporting sustainable forestry - FSC-certified wood pulp comes from forests that are managed in a way that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable.
Giving a sustainable card can be more meaningful to the recipient as it show thought and care went into the card you picked out.
Tips for choosing Sustainable Stationery & Cards?
When choosing sustainable stationery, it is important to consider the following:
The materials - As mentioned above, eco-friendly cards can be made from a variety of sustainable materials. Consider which material would be most suitable for your needs, the impact of any raw materials, and what happens to the card after the recipient reads it.
The design - Opt for a simple design that can be easily read or a more in-depth design that will wow the recipient. Avoid using excessive amounts of glitter or other embellishments as these can be difficult to recycle.
The occasion - Consider the occasion for which you are sending the card. For example, if you are sending a birthday card, choose one with a fun design. If you are sending a thank-you card, opt for a more formal design.
Hopefully this guide helped you fin some eco-friendly options for your next celebration, special occasion, or every day greeting. All of the brands we featured are a great option.
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.