Eco-Friendly Recycled Paper & Envelopes-Paper & Enviroment

Everyone knows, that reads this blog anyway, how passionate we are about the environment.   Maybe it’s because I practically from Colorado and we are serious tree huggers ~gardeners, farmer’s market kind of people!!  Or maybe it’s because my husband and I have a 4 year old son and I want this world to be as beautiful for him as it has been for us.  Either way, as often as we can make a fully recycled invitation suite for a customer, we do….

It Pays To Think Green

In our increasingly eco-conscious society, waste management and resource conservation are topics of much concern. And one concerned person can make quite a difference. Whether you’re organizing a social event, planning a wedding or just selecting materials for use in your own projects, it can pay to “think green” and consider using recycled paper.

Why Buy Recycled Paper?

Well, recycled paper production offers many environmental advantages over “virgin” (nonrecycled) production:

• Conserves resources, energy, and landfill space (Approximately 35% of solid waste sent to landfills consists of paper!)
• Protects and preserves forests and ecosystems
• Produces less pollution
• Reduces the use of toxic chemicals

Comparable Performance To Non-Recycled Papers

In addition to the environmental benefits, recycled papers have many of the same perks as their virgin counterparts.

• Comparable performance in printers and copiers
• Often indistinguishable from non-recycled stock in color, weight, and tone.
• Many lines of recycled paper are acid-free (a measure of their longevity) just like virgin papers
• Can also be Process Chlorine Free (PCF), which simply means that the paper was not exposed to any forms of chlorine while being made — thereby preventing the release of harmful toxins that can occur during the paper bleaching process.

PC100 – The Greenest Paper Of Them All

Fortunately, LCI Paper offers several lines of partially and fully-recycled paper stock to match any project needs our customers may have. The “greenest” of these is our PC100 card stock and envelope line manufactured by Monadnock Paper Mills, located in Bennington, NH. PC100 paper contains 100% post-consumer recycled fibers — this means that it’s constructed only of fibers that otherwise, would have ended up as solid waste.

• PC100 paper is extremely bright and clean
• Manufactured using only natural, renewable sources of energy such as wind and water power
• PC100 paper is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an independent accreditation association whose goal is to ensure that responsible land use and resource conservation practices are strictly followed. The FSC seal of approval ensures that the product you’re purchasing adheres to their strict environmental regulations.

Eco-Chic Wedding

From the wedding dress to the menu to the favors and transportation, what to know to start reducing, reusing and recycling for your eco-chic affair.

Nature’s way

Research locations where the proceeds support eco-friendly causes. State parks and nature preserves are a great place to start.

Daytime I dos

Celebrate during daylight—and if possible, outdoors—to cut down on electricity. If you’re set on an evening celebration, consider candlelight—soy candles burn cleaner and longer than traditional wax candles—to help illuminate the venue, and create a romantic ambiance.

Minimize paper waste

Find a printing company that uses 100 percent recycled paper that has been processed without chlorine—or one that prints on paper embedded with wildflower seeds that can later be planted. Then, choose a simple design and use a postcard as a reply card. To announce your big-day details, use Brides.com’s My Wedding Web Site. Only print out information cards for guests who don’t have internet access.

Dress the part

Recycle a dress—whether it’s your mother’s gown or a gorgeous find from a vintage shop. If going retro isn’t your style, look for a dress in a natural fiber, like hemp-satin (visit Conscious Clothing getconscious.com), or find a simple white dress that you can alter, accessorize and wear again. Jewelry also makes a great “something borrowed.” What better excuse to raid Mom’s or Grandma’s jewelry box!

Start a green home

Look for eco-friendly home and garden stores that have registry options, like Branch Home, branchhome.com, or Design Public, designpublic.com.

With this ring…

Pledge your commitment to the earth and each other by choosing a ring made with environmentally-conscious precious metals—such as Leber Jeweler’s Earthwise Jewelryline, leberjeweler.com/earthwise, made with recycled gold and platinum. Or, opt for eco-friendly, handcrafted wooden rings from Chicago Joinery, chicagojoinery.com, or Touch Wood Rings, touchwoodrings.com.

Flower power

Before choosing your bouquet, look for a florist that supports organic flower farms and uses local and seasonal wildflowers so you cut the emissions that would be generated by shipping flowers from far away. For centerpieces, use oxygen-producing potted plants, which guests can take home, and incorporate organic fruits, vegetables and berries.

Put your best face forward

Even if you’re a natural beauty who doesn’t wear much make-up, consider enhancing your look for your wedding photos. Choose a brand of cosmetics that uses natural and organic ingredients—and of course, that avoids animal testing.

Eat green

Talk with caterers about using local, organic fare and make sure they offer enough options for vegetarian guests.

Toast the earth

Support winemakers who are as passionate about nature as they are about their vineyard by serving biodynamic or organic wines at your reception. Start your search at the online shop for Appellation Wine & Spirits shop.appellationnyc.com, a New York City wine shop that specializes in organically- and biodynamically-made wines

Plan a biodegradable picnic

If you’re planning a simple and outdoorsy rehearsal dinner, think twice about purchasing throw-away plates. Consider renting dishes, silverware and cloth napkins, or use biodegradable dishes and flatware made from cornstarch, potatoes, sugar cane or tropical leaves.

Do the environment a favor

When it comes to wedding favors, give a piece of fruit from a local orchard, or share a living gift—like a tree sapling or a small potted plant—with each guest. For those traveling via airplane, distribute packets of seeds. Soy candles or soap also make great green favors. Or, if you have a favorite pro-environment organization, let your guests know in the wedding program that in lieu of favors you’re making a donation in their honor.

Skip the rice

Throwing rice after a wedding ceremony can be dangerous for birds, and throwing birdseed that contains non-native or invasive plants can cause problems if you’re saying your vows in a nature preserve or state park. Instead, look into tossing native wildflower seeds or flower petals, or have your guests blow bubbles.

Enjoy an all-natural honeymoon

Plan a honeymoon where you can commune with nature—say, at an eco-resort that protects and preserves the environment.

Consider eco-travel

Your honeymoon flight, along with the flights of all the guests who travel to your wedding from afar, will produce large amounts of CO2 emissions. Think about investing in renewable energy credits (or green tags) to help offset your global warming impact.

Getting around

Think about having your ceremony and reception at the same location—or offer transportation between the two sites—to avoid excess car emissions.

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