Seeded paper is a cool material made with seeds so you can plant it after use. This tiny, sustainable feature supercharges your waste with the natural ability to grow into something completely different while serving as a great design principle. The seeded paper exists because of a sort of technical craft that pushes the limit of paper. It’s both a “oh, neat” moment in crafting and in sustainability. Plantable, a brand that only makes things from growable paper. Interesting, right? The more of the story you uncover, you start to think, “that sounds about right.” Maybe all crafts could try to be sustainable—there is a giant wave of this kind of sustainability in paper first (and to many people, the entire point), in everything imaginable at your local hobby store, and in the rest of the world! It’s actually a bit scary to first realize the many things we use every day—from groceries to morning routines, travel habits, potato skins, books, condoms, other drinks, and summer water balloons—all painted with acrylic.
What is Seeded Paper?
Seeds are embedded in the recycled dirge of cast-off pulp paper and cotton sheets. The non-GMO seeds find a novel home in their now biodegradable paper, which is plantable once its obvious purpose has been served. Blended in recycled paper, seeds take in their composter friend, the paper that is also their nest. The seeded paper, which you can plant in soil once your sheet of paper or event invitation is no longer needed, upcycles discarded paper and cotton into a flower, herb, or vegetable garden.
The Benefits of Using Sustainable Paper
Traditional paper production contributes to deforestation, consumes a lot of water, and is a source of industrial pollution. In this context, the importance of alternatives like recycled paper becomes clear. Recycled paper conserves trees and reduces landfill waste by using paper once more that we’ve already made. No extra trees required! The process of making recycled paper also uses far less energy. As a result, incinerated or decomposing paper that would have released carbon into the atmosphere instead gets another tour of duty. Meanwhile, seeded paper takes a decidedly intriguing next step in eco-friendliness. This paper is designed to be planted after use so it can grow into something useful again. Quite literally, when you plant this paper and keep watering it, it will begin to decompose and sprout seeds. Over time, these seeds attract bees and butterflies, which in turn fosters the health of your garden or a wider local ecosystem. By using this type of paper, you are not only helping the environment but you are also bringing to market a truly unique and heartwarming set of stationery products.
The Craftsmanship Behind Plantable Paper
At Plantable, we take the time to handcraft every piece of seeded paper. This process involves carefully blending recycled materials with non-GMO seeds according to quality standards. The result of this unique texture of the paper is enjoyment from our customers — not only from a visual perspective, but also from a tactile one. This unique texture makes it nearly impossible to put the paper down. The paper is 300gsm uncoated paper so it has a really nice weight to it. Users will appreciate the more premium feel over competing products whether they choose to write on the paper or print on it. Quality controls (checks) are in place. Before every batch of seeded paper is planted in the world, it is planted in the Plantable laboratory. The paper is checked for strength, but equally important, the paper is planted using the ultimate “green thumb” test for seed paper viability. While no formal discussions have been held regarding the planting of specific regional seeds into the paper, Canadian seeds would be selected, thus supporting local biodiversity. Every time you write on Plantable paper you get to enjoy the opportunity to plant a flower. Think of it as your tiny plot in the world.
Creative Uses for Seeded Paper
Seeded paper can be used for creative alternatives to invitations and greeting cards. People can enjoy your beautiful cards and then plant them in the ground to grow into flowers or herbs. That is an amazing way to make your special day truly memorable. Not only is it a personal touch for a loved one, but it also offers an easy way to spread the word about our environment and how to care for it. Seeded paper is great for eco-friendly companies to use as package options. Companies may enhance their customers’ perceptions about their eco-friendliness by using custom packaging that is plantable. We can all make a difference. Be the difference! Are you a designer or commercial printer? Are you looking to use seeded paper for projects and not sure what type of seeds to select? Not sure how well the paper can be printed on or finished? Not sure the texture you want, or what type of paper you want? Of course, we have that information—but what about inserting it into a machine for folding? Rest assured we, have you covered! I will talk about it shortly. This article is about the user of the seeded paper and not including instructions on how to plant it.
Why Choose Plantable’s Seeded Paper?
Plantable’s products have a unique selling point within the eco-friendly market: their seeded paper can be planted to grow beautiful flowers or herbs. This seemingly simple idea has made a lasting impression on their clientele. Customers can add a personal touch to their gifting and correspondence with stationery products that change the eco-friendly narrative in their favor. After all, when was the last time that you could take a simple thank-you card and grow it into lasting memories? Plantable has greened up the thumbs of thousands of individuals, if not more. There are numerous stories of successful germination and growth, furthering the company’s environmental message. Monikers certainly help, too. When a company that can produce a product en masse – such as paper – is verified by the Forest Stewardship Council as being 100% free of virgin fibers, it can have a resonating effect.
This article journeyed through the very negative environmental impact of traditional paper production and the benefits of greener alternatives. I was particularly smitten by the idea of seeded paper. Having fulfilled its paper destiny of whatever lovely missive might be written upon it, it is planted. Rather than persisting as trash, it develops into beautiful flowers or tasty herbs! What a perfect close loop. And it even promotes biodiversity! It’s so important for us to make a stand by choosing to buy seeded paper. This has important implications, probably just about as obvious as this author has implied, in the fight against deforestation and pollution generally. Fun fashions made out of crazy paper options could also have such beautiful anecdotes. Plantable seems to be a pretty cool outfitter of seeded paper options to explore. As we each make our contributions to the universe of completed projects, picking better options for mixed media probably couldn’t hurt in the areas where we can make choices