eco news in the news
The Art File focuses on gift wrap and bags Belly Button dreams of an eco-friendly Xmas Over the past 10 years, since Belly Button Designs’ collections have incorporated ‘planet friendly’ as they like to call it, the quality of recycled board has improved incredibly. Belly Button says it was the first greeting card manufacturer to use board made from recycled coffee cups and make it an affordable proposition by working with the supplier. This year, all collections will be available either nested or card clasped. For Christmas, Electric Dreams is packed in a specially-designed paper jacket, and Mobius comes in a luxury box. Both of these initiatives replace the need for plastic bags or over-packaging. Pictured is the new luxury Meadow collection, which is made from 100% postconsumer waste.
The Art File has been making headway into eco-friendly card production for some time - in 2019 it introduced naked cards, then in 2020 and 2021, it completely redesigned its Christmas product packaging. The newest update comes in the form of gift wrap and gift bags, which have apparently proved more of a challenge than cards in terms of improving sustainability. The new bags will all be laminate-free, meaning the product will be able to be recycled fully alongside other paper products. One of the biggest challenges has been the cello that surrounds roll wraps, but after much trialling with key retailers, the roll wrap is now cello free. And for Christmas, a fully recyclable glassine band has been added to the Art File’s Christmas charity packs. It goes around the pack of six cards and envelopes to keep the product together, with the charity logos featured on the glassine. This means that all of The Art File’s Christmas boxed and packaged product will be plastic-free, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly.
Glitter goes eco Northwest-based Ronald Britton continues to develop and expand its range of Bioglitter products. Dubbed the world’s only certified fresh water biodegradable glitter brand, Bioglitter is designed to biodegrade quickly and safely in the natural environment. Made from ethically and sustainably sourced natural raw materials, it also has additional benefits when used in packaging and print. As a result, Deco Bioglitter products are now starting to be used on paper and board products, packaging and other materials. Being cellulose based, Ronald Britton says the product is chemically like paper. This, coupled with its other eco credentials, increases the number of benefits when used in print:
BEAUTIFUL GREETING CARDS
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• Improved compatibility with recycling equipment: unlike plastic glitter, which melts, Bioglitter burns like paper to ash. • Reduced print waste: Bioglitter is applied as a pigment either within an ink or onto an adhesive ink, so it‘s only printed where needed. • It also allows for alternative paper recovery methods: • De-inking: removed along with de-inking compatible inks. • Biomass Incineration: it’s a renewable source of energy. • Composting: Bioglitter is certified freshwater biodegradable, a performance level significantly higher that composting, and will therefore quickly degrade. • Re-use & re-purpose: Products printed with Bioglitter can be re-used or re-purposed, for example in crafting. To provide end-users with a clear differentiator, Ronald Britton gives printers permission to use its registered Bioglitter logos on product, packaging, gift wrap or other materials. Lydia Scamponi of the Unique Paper Company, said: “Christmas is a time to have fun and celebrate, and it would be such a shame to do so without sparkly glitter! We are delighted to be working with Bioglitter, a truly environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic glitter, to create a fabulous set of wrapping paper, which is bringing the glamour back for Christmas and beyond.”
