Feb 29, 2012

{Guest Post from Eco and Elsie} A Guide to Eco-Friendly Invitations

Thank you to the Eco-Beautiful Weddings Team for allowing me to be a guest blogger for the next few days! I’m excited to share with you some fun, eco-friendly ideas and if you like what you see, feel free to join me at Eco and Elsie, my own blog about earth friendly weddings, life, and marriage.

 

Your invitation – no bigger usually than five by seven inches and containing no more than merely the who, what, where, and when of your wedding – is so much more than just a piece of paper. An invitation is the first glimpse your guests have into your wedding day. If you’re an eco-conscious couple, that first glimpse should reflect that. Below I’ll help you identify what makes them eco, as well as some great companies to choose from.

 

One, responsible material: When choosing your invitations, most companies offer recycled paper, but what you want to look for is 100% post consumer recycled paper. This is the type of paper that is made from curbside recyclables, which helps to continue the demand for recycled goods. If recycled paper isn’t your thing, check out Night Owl Paper Goods, which offers invitations printed on sustainably harvested wood, or Twisted Limb Paper, which handcrafts their own seeded paper that sprouts wildflowers when planted.

Two, responsible printing: Unfortunately, printing is an inherently non-environmentally friendly process, but that doesn’t mean you have to hand write each invitation. Instead, look for companies that utilize soy ink if they are printing with an offset press. Laser printers and print on demand services are actually relatively eco-friendly in the sense that they require less clean up and power than a large offset press. Last, but not least, consider traditional letterpress printers, such as Smock Paper, which harks back to a time of personal craftsmanship and reduced electrical power.

Three, responsible company: The first two points are rendered completely useless if the company doesn’t practice environmentally responsible business operations. Do they do things like recycle in the studio and use recycled packaging, such as Earthly Affair, or are they aware of their building’s environmental impact, such as InviteSite who doesn’t use heat or a/c in their factory?

Jennifer is the gal behind Eco and Elsie, a blog about eco-friendly weddings, life, and marriage.

3 Comments