Business cards, swing tags, loyalty cards – in the digital age there are still a few things we need to print from time to time. The impact of traditional print on the environment is big. According to Laurijssen, J, the pulp and paper industry is the fourth largest industrial user of energy worldwide. So how can we work minimise the effect of print in our businesses?

Cotton over paper (tree free)

Keen to kill two birds with one stone? Choosing cotton offcuts instead of paper is a great option. Not only does this work to minimise waste from the fashion industry – which accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater but also helps save a tree or two. This alternative to paper is a no brainer for apparel brands as a swing tag and is loved by a tonne of our clients for their business cards. Want to find out more? Get in touch.

Stone paper (tree free)

Another favourite of ours is paper made from stone instead of paper. The manufacturer Rockstock is a New Zealand based company so making the switch also backs another local business. Rockstock claim their stone paper helps improve, air, land and water quality and reduce energy consumption when compared to traditional paper production. Here is a link to their website.

Seed paper

Seed paper is a handcrafted paper that contains flower seed within it. The idea is that when composted something good grows from it. We love this alternative as it encourages a conscious decision to compost. This paper is a favourite for florists and a myriad of other brands.

Want to find out more? Get in touch.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200310-sustainable-fashion-how-to-buy-clothes-good-for-the-climate

https://vnp.nl/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/8-Energy-use-in-the-paper-industry.-An-assessment-of-improvement-potentials-at-different-levels.pdf