Sustainability at Papier

We’re proud to say that we’ve made decisions and efforts to lessen our footprint since the very beginning, and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve.

We’re conscious about our impact on the planet

Discover the ways we’re making a difference below as well as some sustainability facts the European paper industry can be very happy about. Keep your eyes peeled for future updates – there’s even more to come.

Made for you

We produce all our products on a made-to-order basis – we’ve done so since day one. Every Papier item is especially made for you, meaning minimal stock, minimal returns and no emissions from running large warehouses. In other words, as little waste as possible.

Sustainably sourced

Our paper is always sourced from FSC-certified forests. This means we only ever work with paper suppliers who deal with forests that comply with the highest social and environmental standards.

Paper packaging

We pride ourselves on our paper packaging. (Shrink wraps? No thanks.) All of our wedding designs, stationery and photobooks are lovingly wrapped in simple cardboard and paper – lovely, humble materials you can recycle at home.

Paper and why it’s so green

Paper is one of the most recycled products in the world

In 2018, the European recycling rate for paper was 72%, and the industry is striving to reach 74% by 2020. [1]

European forests are growing by more than 1,500 football pitches per day

The trees harvested from these forests provide over 90% of the wood fibre used by the European pulp & paper industry. [2]

The paper industry is the biggest, single industrial user & producer of renewable energy in Europe

In fact, 60% of European pulp and paper mills’ energy comes from renewable sources. [3]

93% of water used to make paper is returned to the environment

The remaining 7% is either evaporated, retained within the product, or bound up in solid waste. [4]

[1] European Paper Recycling Council, Monitoring Report 2018, [2] FAO data, 2005-2015, [3] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Forest resources Assessment 2005-2015, [4] CEPI, Water Profile in 2015, 2017

How to recycle your Papier

Packaging

Once you’ve unwrapped your Papier pieces, toss all of the cardboard and paper packaging in the recycling bin.

Notecards and more

Any used notecards, writing paper, invitations and greeting cards can go in the recycling bin too!

Notebook inner pages

The inner pages of your notebooks, planners and diaries can be recycled. Just tear the pages away from the glue on the spine and toss!

3 Fun Ways to Upcycle Your Papier Greeting Cards

Your questions, our answers

We’ve answered a few frequently asked questions below. If there’s something else you’d like to know, just drop us an email at support@papier.com and our team will find the answer for you.

Why don’t you use recycled paper?

It’s not possible to know the source of all the paper that goes into making recycled paper, so we prefer to use virgin paper that we know for certain came from a sustainably managed forest. The paper industry also relies on virgin fibres to sustain the paper cycle as recycled fibres degrade after several uses.

What are your delivery partners doing?

We deliver your Papier treasures using partners that share our commitment to being conscious. In the UK, we use DPD (they’re dedicated to making every parcel they deliver carbon neutral) and Royal Mail (you can read their environmental strategy here).

Are your notebook covers recyclable?

They’re currently not, but they are designed to last and we are looking for a biodegradable alternative.

Which of your products are FSC-certified?

All of our paper comes from FSC-certified paper suppliers who only work with forests that comply with the highest social and environmental standards.

Do all of your products come in plastic-free packaging?

Nearly all do, except for our framed prints, table plans & wedding signs. Currently they have protective, plastic elements to keep them safe during transit, but we are working on implementing new eco-friendly options.

Why do you use upcycled leather instead of vegan leather?

Upcycled leather uses cast offs from other industries that will essentially go to waste. Vegan leather is generally PU (plastic) on top of a base material which can be a virgin natural material (not recycled, bleached etc.) or an oil-based material like polyester. We chose to use upcycled leather to minimise the use of oil, plastic and unnecessary new materials. It also has the look and feel of real leather.

There are some great vegan leathers that are emerging such as pineapple, apple and mushroom leathers, but they are not commercially available as book binding materials currently. We would be open to anyone able to supply them thin enough for book binding in the future.