Nothing completes the circle of love more than using recycled paper to post your big-day plans. But what do you need to know before picking up this eco-friendly trend? Here’s what to ask your paperie to ensure your invites are low-impact but high-class.
Electronic invites are won’t harm any tress, but leaving a paper trail is tradition.
“You don’t have to be a complete environmentalist to implement a few earth-friendly changes in your life,” says Jennifer Stambolsky, founder of EarthlyAffair.com, an earth-friendly paperie.
When browsing for planet-pleasing paper, Stambolsky says to “look for sheets that are 100-percent post-consumer, meaning it has the highest recycled content that you can get.” With most big paper companies producing products that are only 30 percent made from recycled materials, look for anything certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This stamp of approval assures all fibers meet earth-friendly requirements.
As the trend to go green remains popular, more vendors have tuned into the demand. “It depends on where you are getting the invites from, but eco-friendly can mean competitive in pricing,” sees Stambolsky. While running a green operation usually means owners are eco-conscience from top down – which could mean an increase in overhead costs – most recycled-paper price tags go sheet to sheet with traditional. And as Stambolsky notes, “If it seems like you are paying way too much, something is off with your purchase.” In short: Trust your gut.
While you put the spotlight on good earth efforts, your guests stay in the dark. “You cannot tell the difference between recycled and not-recycled paper invitations,” sees Stambolsky. The only clue to your eco-consciousness reveals itself in the tiny flecks in the paper. “Unless you look very closely at the paper, most don’t even see the flecks.”
Paper Sources
Here’s some alternative paper types worth writing home about.
Recovered from consumers, curbside and from landfills, this is as good as it gets for eco-friendly sources. “We have to keep the demand for recycled goods high in order to increase production of more recycled goods,” sees Stambolsky. The circle of life makes its mark on paper.
These paper sources work well with water-press printers, a common print style for wedding invitations.
If you’re serious about going green, check out Botanical PaperWorks (botanicalpaperworks.com) for plantable eco-invites. Your love takes root all over the country.
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