Environmentally-friendly Christmas Cards
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This holiday season, why not send good tidings to the planet by choosing environmentally-friendly Christmas cards. |
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Each Christmas season, more than 2 billion cards are mailed wiping out 300,000 trees in the U.S. alone. While a phone call or an email might be a more environmentally-friendly way to send holiday wishes, we understand that holiday cards are a time-honored tradition.
The Green Promise team feels much better about sending out some holiday cheer when the cards are made from recycled paper. Go for the gold and look for 100% recycled content and a significant amount of post-consumer waste printed with vegetable inks. Bonus points for being certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. You can also look for the recycled symbol on the back of the cards.
The list below includes a variety of environmentally-friendly choices: from 100% recycled paper to tree-free and plantable papers to vegetable inks. This list will be updated periodically, but if you notice any errors or know of a company that belongs on this list, e-mail Green Promise at resource@greenpromise.com. Spread cheer responsibly!
Anne Taintor Boxed Holiday Cards (http://www.annetaintor.com)
Very funny vintage holiday cards. Contemporary humor paired with retro graphics printed on recycled paper.
Bloomin’ Flower Cards (http://www.bloomin.com)
Earth-friendly, handmade, seeded greeting cards. The 'Lil Bloomer Collection features full color printed cards that uniquely integrate with die cut holiday seed paper shapes. Previously referred to as ornament cards, the plantable shapes may also be hung from trees or gifts prior to planting. Directions for growing are printed on the back. Inside greeting: May the seeds of joy and happiness be yours throughout the holiday season. Made from 100% post-consumer paper, soy-based inks, and organic pigments.
Botanical Paper Works (http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com)
Unique personalized Christmas cards that are made from 100% recycled pulp and recycles into wildflowers. This special way of spreading Christmas cheer is both fun and eco-friendly, and each product includes planting instructions for how to plant the handmade paper and grow spruce trees.
Cards for Causes Recycled Christmas Cards (http://www.cardsforcauses.com)
Recycled paper holiday and Christmas greeting cards from Cards for Causes come with your choice of verse and ink color, free personalization and to top it off, you have the opportunity to designate an environmental charity that will benefit from the purchase of your recycled greeting cards.Cards for Causes always donates twenty percent of your recycled Christmas card order to the charity / non profit of your choice.
EndoPrint Holiday Card Sets (http://www.endoprint.com)
Made from 100% post consumer waste paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) and non-toxic soy based ink. All manufacturing is 100% wind powered generated.
Girly Whirly Earth Friendly Cards (http://www.girlywhirly.com)
Eco-friendly holiday greeting cards that are simple yet whimsical. All paper used in making girlywhirly cards have recycled content and as much post-consumer waste as is available. Check the earth friendly page to see which cards are eco-friendly.
Global Exchange Handmade Holiday Cards (http://store.gxonlinestore.org)
Handmade in Rwanda with recycled paper. This card was handcrafted for you by young people in Rwanda who have lost their parents to conflict or disease. Your purchase of this creative artwork empowers them to provide education, health, food and shelter for their younger brothers and sisters. All the paper is handmade from local Rwandan office waste, making it environmentally sustainable, too. Envelope included.
Holiday Classics (http://www.holidayclassics.com)
Choose from Holiday Classics' large selection of holiday greeting cards. Most are made from 100% recycled paper with 30% post-consumer fibers. Green Promise is partial to the Hoppy Holidays Card. Awwwww.
Linda and Harriett (http://www.lindaandharriett.com)
Multi Pack of Holiday Greeting Cards made from 100% recycled paper.
Peaceful Valley Greetings (http://www.peacefulvalleygreetings.com)
Several traditional holiday cards made from Kenaf tree-free paper with designer tin included.
Pear Tree Greetings Recycled Cards (http://www.peartreegreetings.com)
What's better than the Twelve Days of Christmas? A "green" Twelve Days of Christmas! Verse on front of Card: 12 scooters scooting, 11 WINDMILLS A-TURNING, 10 bamboo fields a-growing, 9 SOY CANDLES A-BURNING, 8 composts composting, 7 HORMONE-FREE HENS A-LAYING, 6 carbon credits, 5 BAGS OF FAIR TRADE ORGANIC COFFEE BEANS, 4 compact fluorescent light bulbs, 3 TOFU BURGERS, 2 solar panels AND A FREE-RANGE ORGANIC TURKEY
Pleasantrees (http://www.pleasantrees.com)
Pleasantrees offers corporate Christmas cards and corporate holiday cards with exceptional quality, exclusive designs and an everyday low price. All cards are printed on recycled paper containing up to 100% post consumer waste content so you can feel good about the message you are sending. All papers are FSC-certified as well. Pleasantrees has partnered with American Forests and has pledged to plant 3 trees for every holiday card order placed through 2009.
Seasons Greenings (http://www.seasonsgreenings.net)
Stylish, customizable holiday cards are responsibly printed on 60% recycled FSC certified stock with vegetable inks by an FSC certified printer. Same quality as you would expect from fine, custom printed cards, AND more environmentally friendly.
Seltzer Holiday Cards (http://www.seltzergoods.com)
Luxurious 100% post-consumer recycled paper is custom made specifically for their cards and envelopes. All Seltzer paper products are printed using veggie-based inks. They are serious about eco-friendly materials, packaging, and production methods.
Sierra Club (http://action.sierraclub.org)
Offers several different holiday designs printed in the USA with soy-based inks on recycled paper. Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
Speak Up Designs (http://www.speakupdesigns.com)
Adorable Westie Reindeer Greeting Cards High quality, chlorine and acid free matte paper consisting of 30% post consumer waste and 50% total recycled fiber.
Studio Daedre Recycled Holiday Cards (http://www.studiodaedre.com)
Papers are acid free with a high degree of post-consumer recycled paper. They offer several cute designs.
Tiny Prints Holiday Cards (http://www.tinyprints.com)
Newly expanded eco-friendly offererings . Choose from numerous styles. Just make sure to choose the option for recycled paper when ordering (look for the available on recycled symbol).
Tree-Free Greetings (http://www.tree-free.com)
Their vibrant and colorful greetings are made from sustainable resources such as reclaimed sugar cane Sweetpaper(tm), up to 100% post-consumer recycled paper, FSC Certified paper, and soy-based inks. Tree-Free paper saves trees, energy, and has a low carbon footprint.
Two Piglets (http://twopiglets.com)
The cards are all pressed using soy ink (may contain some nut oils) onto beautiful bristol paper which contains 30% post consumer recycled fiber (you just can't tell). Presses are cleaned using ordinary & simple vegetable oil, instead of harsh & non-edible smog causing solvents. Most scrap cards are shredded into packing materials for wholesale shipment. Some are used to press insert sheets, which are enclosed with the cards. Finally, most shipping cartons are re-used boxes that we gather from local retailers of sorts. Check out Two Piglets if you are looking for a little humor in your holiday cards.
