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6 Cool Green Holiday Card Options

Jennifer Kaplan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:36:28 +0000

If you’re like 50%-60% of businesses in America you may be thinking about sending customized holiday cards this year. If so, there’s still time and you have lots of excellent green options.

1. The greenest option is to forgo printed cards and use an eCard. American Greetings has a wide selction of eCards with minimal advertisements and is free for the first month. They even have an option to include a virtual gift card good for use at over 100 participating merchants.

2. ReProduct Zero-Waste custom photo holiday cards and envelopes are created using environmentally friendly materials and are completely recyclable—100% of these cards and envelopes are reused in the manufacturing of Shaw carpets. Cards and envelopes are made from synthetic ‘paper’ (virgin polypropylene) which is a treeless alternative. According to Rachel Derby of ReProduct, unlike paper which can only be recycled a limited number of times, plastics can be used again and again without losing any material quality, in a true Cradle to Cradle manner. Recipients follow simple return instructions detailed on the postage paid envelope that comes with the card.

3. Minted has beautiful digitally printed eco-friendly cards. All their holiday cards are printed on 100% PCW recycled 130lb matte card stock. Minted is powered by wind power and the cards are FSC and GreenSeal and Green-E certified. If you order today you will receive your cards by December 15.

The Power of Public Outcry

Beth Bader — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:42:41 +0000

At times, we consumers can feel a bit powerless in the wake of so many recalls of everything from food and medicine to toys, knowing that so little of these goods actually do get inspected, and often the inspection process fails. 2007 was a rough year in this capacity.

Last year, there were a record number of contaminated meat recalls, primarily from E. coli risks. Yet, it may surprise many people that despite its role as an inspector, the USDA does not have the legal authority to force a recall of meat and poultry product. It’s a frustrating situation. Indeed, in the wake of the record recalls, the only outcome by the USDA was to determine that a “study needed to be done on the situation.” In other words, little action by the USDA to address the situation and partial, voluntary recalls by the meat companies. Status quo.

And, then the Hallmark/Westmoreland products investigation hit the Web in the form of a video of shocking animal abuse and illegal use of downed cattle for human consumption, including school lunch programs. Actions that occurred despite twice a day visits from a USDA inspector.

Tip o’ the Day: Say ‘I Love You’ to the Earth, Too!

Rebecca Carter — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:46:38 +0000

The term Hallmark Holiday has become so popular, it even has a Wikipedia entry. The basic concept, of course, is that the holiday exists almost purely for commercial purposes. Many would argue that the days are actually invented by businesses as an excuse to sell, sell, sell.

Now, we know that Valentine's Day goes back a little further than Hallmark, but it certainly has become more and more commercial through the years. What these Hallmark Holidays have done is make people feel guilty if they do not give a greeting card - or angry if they don't receive!

According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans purchase nearly 7 billion greeting cards each year. Of course, most of these cards are not made with eco-friendly in mind. They use new resources and create waste.

One alternative to the typically greeting card is to go green. Companies like Green Field Paper Company make tree-free cards and have a whole line of "Grow a Note" greeting cards…plant it and it will become…well, a plant!

Of course, you could also to take the zero-waste road and go the e-card route. Check out The Nature Conservancy and PETA for some eco and animal friendly themed cards made especially for Valentine's Day.

Rebecca says: Oops, I promised my dad that I would send a card to Grandma and Auntie. I might not be able to find local green cards at last minute, so I think I might pull an DIY and create something out of materials I have at home. More effort = more thought, and it's the thought that counts, right?

More Resources:

Greeting Card Association

Wikipedia: Valentine's Day