Since we have been talking so much about what is eco-friendly stationery, Bumpercards has decided to introduce a few designs specifically on eco-friendly paper.
FYI all of the paper we use is Green-E Certified (meaning papers are bought from companies using alternative energy to run their mills), and Chlorine and Carbon free. We feel this is a great start, but we want to take more steps in the GREEN direction.
The papers and designs we have chosen are a Green Earth Robot and a Green Grass Monkey. Each of these papers are acid and carbon free, Green-E certified, Green Seal certified and paper stock use at least 30% PCW-Post Consumer Waste meaning recycled content.
Bumpercards will also be adding an eco friendly option to most of our personalized stationery line and many of our invitations. This is currently being tested in our Baby Stationery Section. This paper stock still be a high end white and will be FSC Certified, Acid Free and Made with 20% FSC Certified Virgin Fiber and 80% Post Consumer Fiber.
One of our favorite papers from Fabriano, a high end Italian paper with a deckled edge, has been environmentally sound for hundreds of years. Fabriano Paper Mill uses:
•ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: The Mill uses 50% Hydropower energy
•CHLORINE FREE: 100% Cholrine Free (no chlorine bleaching).
•MILL CERTIFIED: The Fabriano Mill is ISO 14001 certified to ensure the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly. This is a great paper for custom wedding invitations and wedding stationery as well as that first thank you note for a baby's personalized stationery.
Please let us know your thoughts and what you are looking for in stationery and the environment.
We offically launched Tykecoon to the public this weekend at The Silver Spoon Dog and Baby Buffet. It truly was a fantastic reception and we were thrilled at the response.
Press and celebs alike not only loved the simple retro designs, but were impressed by the fact that Tykecoon is giving back to some great causes.
Celebrity guests such as Constance Zimmer (Entourage and Boston Legal) said, "The designs are so cool and not so baby. I am excited to put my daughter in them and I love that you're giving back." Actress Busy Phillips stated, "Wow, that's fantastic and these make great gifts." Other actors and press such as Marissa Jaret Winokur, Tori Spelling, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Cythina Daniels Hauser, Sofia Dickens, Access Hollywood and TV Guide Network expressed their appreciation for mixing great design and charitable causes.
Tykecoon currently has six designs that represent a different charity that a % of profits will be donated to. For example, a ROBOT and GIRAFFE for One Laptop Per Child, an OWL and TOTEM OWLS for The Ronald McDonald House, an ELEPHANT and KID TOY SQUARES for K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations). Each of the above charities was selected because they have programs that improve the everyday lives for children and their families.
For a limited time Tykecoon t-shirts are available for purchase at www.bumpercards.com.
Bumpercards has been looking into creating an eco-friendly stationery line for about 2 years now. There is so much information out there and many different levels of eco-friendliness.
While researching paper, printing and the environment we found out we have always been "eco-friendly", yet there is more we can do. Most of our papers come from the bigger paper brands and these companies are in the forefront of creating greener options.
There are many different standards to call your company eco-friendly and I will give a summary of a few of the main ingredients to look for:
(Information below has been directly taken from http://www.neenahpaper.com, http://www.wausaupapers.com, http://www.mohawkpaper.com/ , http://www.legionpaper.com/Eco-Friendly.htm)
1.FSC CERTIFIED:
Ensures that the paper meets the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) standards for responsible forest management.
2. GREEN SEAL CERTIFIED:
Signifies that all of our recycled papers are made with a minimum of 30% post consumer fiber and that mill processes, including packaging, are environmentally preferable.
Green Seal Certified is awarded by a nonprofit that rigorously evaluates paper production with standards set for PCW content as well as inking, bleaching and other processes.
Founded in 1989, Green Seal is a non-profit standard-setting organization that awards the Green Seal of Approval to products that cause less harm to the environment than other similar products as defined by their certification standards. Green Seal both develops environmental standards and carries out the actual certification.
This certification insures the delivery of premium papers that are manufactured free of chlorine chemistry and from sustainable raw materials.
Processed chlorine-free or PCF indicates that no dioxin-releasing chlorinated compounds were used to bleach the product.
Additionally, the PCF-labeled product must be 30 percent PCW. Less desirable is "Totally chlorine-free," or TCF, which is made from virgin fiber. This label is regulated by the Chlorine Free Products Association.
Green-e identifies products made with certified renewable energy, including but not limited to wind power, solar power, low impact hydropower, and biomass.
As stated by Green-e, “Green-e is the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products.”
5.CARBON NEUTRAL:
A voluntary and legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction and trading system. As a member, Neenah Paper has committed to reduce its carbon footprint, or net greenhouse gas emissions,
6. 100% POST CONSUMER FIBER:
Post Consumer Fiber describes paper that has reached its intended end-user and then discarded. This paper, recovered from curbside collections, is considered to be post consumer.
Post-consumer waste or PCW means that the product's pulp was made from paper once used by consumers;
100 percent PCW is most desirable, but rare. No independent certifier regulates its use.