Where to Buy Pretty Recycled Greetings Cards
Little Difference is a fantastic company that produces greetings cards on recycled card (the company is co-founded by an artist from Isle of Wight). Although now based in New Zealand, the cards for UK shipping addresses are printed in Kent, to save on air miles.
This company does not include ‘seeded cards’ (some can be pet-toxic anyway so should not be sent to homes with pets) because some companies send cards with seeds of non-native species that could do more harm than good.
Instead, this company uses profits to help fund tree-planting projects in deforestation-risk countries like Madagascar, home to more unique species than anywhere else on earth.
You can shop by occasion (including Christmas – read our post on keeping pets safe at Christmas) along with birthdays, anniversaries, any occasion (!), sympathy, new baby, new home, children, father’s day, weddings and thank you cards. Multi-packs are also sold, to stock up!
All are designed by our Isle of Wight native, and all the ‘boring stuff’ is done her husband (accounts etc). Another couple have also come on board, so this is a real ambitious project, to change the plastic-wrapped, tree-chopping-down, not-doing-much-but-make-profits greetings card industry (which often includes glitter that can’t be recycled and contains microplastics).
Wholesale orders are also available, so cards printed in Kent can be sold in independent shops. It can also offer custom designs and wedding stationery on request.
Little Difference also offers lovely calendars and fun art prints for children’s walls (both printed on recycled card and sent in compostable packaging).
These beautifully illustrated sets of greetings cards are all by a US artist, a best-seller on Etsy.
Choose your favourites, then stock up so you always have an inspiring card to send, which also supports a local artist, and helps to get the word out on the wonder of birds! Packed in handsome brown kraft paper gift boxes.
Choose from:
Shorebirds (sandpiper & whelk, herring gull, Arctic tern, ruddy turnstone and piping plover).
Winter Birds are blank inside. Each bird is labelled on the back: a mourning dove, mountain bluebird, dark-eyed junco, red-breasted nuthatch and barn owl (the last two local!)
For other cards, avoid sending plantable greetings cards to homes with pets, as most wildflowers are unsafe near animal friends.
Scandi-inspired Recycled Greetings Cards
These Scandi-inspired recycled greetings cards are perfect to stock up on, so you can buy a set and pick one to send to someone you love, whenever it’s a birthday or special occasion.
These cards are hand-painted and printed onto eco-fleck card in an A6 size. The cards are blank inside for your message, and are sold with 100% recycled brown Kraft envelopes.
A Pack of Recycled Botanical Christmas Cards
These botanical Christmas cards are not just lovely to look at and supports an indie artist.
Did you know that many Christmas plants are toxic to pets, including mistletoe, holly and poinsettia (the three featured here)? Read more on keeping pets safe at Christmas.
The cards offers 2 cards of each designed, printed on high quality 350gsm recycled white card, and sent with a recycled kraft envelope.
The cards are A6 and blank inside for your own message, and sent wrapped in tissue, and packaged plastic-free in a hardboard envelope or postal box for protection.
Artist Rachel Mahon paints from her garden studio in Nottingham. All her designs use carefully considered colour palettes, inspired by the plants grown in or around her home.
Vintage-Style Christmas Cards (on recycled card)
This set of vintage-style Christmas cards is ideal to stock up on, to send a tree-friendly Christmas card to someone you love. The cards are hand-painted and printed onto eco-fleck card in an A6 size.
The cards are blank inside for your message, and are sold with 100% recycled brown Kraft envelopes.
Choose from a pack of 5 (one of each design), a pack of 10 (2 of each design) or a pack of 20 (four of each design). The artist also offers a a festive stamp design. And a retro-style pack of recycled Christmas cards.
Hedgerow Christmas Cards (on recycled card)
This set of recycled ‘folk art’ Christmas cards features lovely folk art of some of our favourite species. The cards feature 5 cosy images, featuring squirrels, fox, owls, badgers, frogs, mushrooms and starry night skies.
Each card is A6 size, blank inside and includes a recycled brown envelope. Lovingly designed by a talented artist, stock up to send out during the festive season, raise a smile and save some trees at the same time!
Arthouse Unlimited (cards by makers with complex epilepsy)
Arthouse Unlimited is listed, as the charity gives jobs to people with complex epilepsy, who may not otherwise be able to find fulfilling work. They make fun art, to sell these lovely greetings cards, that are sure to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Usually we only list cards on the site made from post-consumer waste. And it would be great if this company progressed to this. But they are in biodegradable wrapping.
The makers can attend art sessions that are held six days a week, with two sessions per day. Each session has up to seven artists, plus a shop assistant placement. There are fewer artists, where higher levels of support are needed, to ensure personal attention and emotional support.
Many of the makers are unable to speak, so displaying their emotions and fun side through art, it a wonderful way for them to feel appreciated by society, and make a difference!
Alice Palace (artistic eco gift cards & wrap)
We love Alice Palace! This artist creates gorgeous personalised cards and gift wrap, made with green energy and printed on recycled paper or card.
England is in danger of becoming a boring monotone, and this company offers just the opposite. Quirky, fun and a little bit ‘English eccentric!’ The greetings cards are all blank inside.
Whatever the occasion, Alice Palace has a gift card or wrap for you, usually printed on recycled card. From happy couples to pet parents, you are sure to find something you like to stock up on!
You can even order a personalised tin for your pooches’ dog treats!
For other cards, avoid sending plantable cards to homes with pets, as most wildflowers are unsafe near animal friends. Also read our post on keeping pets safe at Christmas.
