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How to Avoid the Card and Wrap Trap

by Delia Montgomery August 11, 2008, 12:55 am 125 Views 1 Comment

What is a card or wrap trap? A waste of resources that eventually cost more than money! Most people spend special occasion and holiday funds on ultimate trash when they buy conventional cards, gift wrapping paper and ribbon. Such items are rarely recycled and cause an excessive landfill burden, especially during December.

Perhaps you’ve noticed gift and holiday supplies proudly claiming recycled, post-consumer, chlorine-free, or tree-free? Sounds nice, but are you confused? Most consumers are when trying to decipher it all. Frustrations peak when claims are misleading.

Knowing who to turn to certainly helps. Green Field Paper Company now makes personalized cards and invitations for a socially conscious world. Located in San Diego, they’ve been in business since 1992.

Consider a seed-embedded paper that will sprout wildflowers. There’s also junk mail or garlic paper. Additionally, they offer an array of natural handcrafted tree-free papers, including hemp. Plant-able wedding paper invitations are terrific.

Green Field supplies custom promotions, business cards, corporate events, product tags, and even boxes that are available using their handmade seed-embedded paper. Order now for custom gifts, as supplies are already limited this year.

Sweet Organics and Naturals is a small woman-owned business that also simplifies matters. Owner Sandra offers earth-friendly paper gift bags, recycled tissue paper, biodegradable ribbon, and even handmade paper suitable for laser printers. These stylish items are available to retailers who want to save trees, respect earth, and help make gifts special for their customers.

The ribbons are 100% biodegradable, made from perfectly aligned strands of cotton which are coated with a water-based adhesive, and colored with soy-based ink. Crisp and springy in texture, they hold shape beautifully and are easily curled or shredded. This is a unique environmental ribbon, as well as the azo-free dyed Lokta paper hand-twisted ribbon.

I know, you probably don’t want to think of the holidays during summer heat. But if you want to walk the talk, I suggest you stock up soon. Green shoppers get real and ready because eco cards and gift wrapping are no longer a dream!

Written by Delia Montgomery

I am Delia, d/b/a Chic Eco on www.ChicEco.com, and established myself as an eco fashion guru by learning "who makes what in the world of environmental fashion and design."

Enjoy reading some of my freelance writing about environmental design, fashion and art -- from both consumer and supplier perspectives. You may notice I focus most on individual eco designers, movers and shakers.

From sustainable fashion apparel to paint and flooring, discoveries are a rush. I get my kicks this way. I also offer sales representation of earth-friendly designed products for wholesale buyers. Retailers may take advantage of my services with factory-direct pricing. Spend less time sourcing and prevent green-washed purchases!

My other forte is connecting suppliers with business-to-business tools. Aspects of my business vary with consulting services while I'm proud to be the aide that embraces unique and innovative gigs.

I'm originally a Kentucky Blue Grass gal who relocated to Maui early 2006 and the tropical Puna District of Big Island, Hawaii late 2007. Walk the talk is my motto here.

Early 2009 I constructed a yurt home office in a semi-urban setting on a tiny lot. My water comes from the sky, contained in a catchment that's not likely to dry in this rain forest. The electric is designed for solar conversion. I grow about 30% of my food organically, compost, and recycle to the hilt. Permaculture with a full eco system is my gardening style.

In fact, gardening is my ultimate joy. I seek gigs like design, weeding and planting between other jobs. My love is Hawai'i which has more climate zones than any state. There are frequent earthquakes here, typically under a 3.0 magnitude, and I happen to dig the vibrations. It's a wonderful simple life in paradise. As I grow older and wiser, I become more and more grateful.