Minted is a premium design marketplace with a passion for quality-made, beautiful goods. Every piece of stationery is brought to life with the most luxurious materials, including 100% recycled post-consumer waste options, and printing techniques to create something truly one-of-a-kind.
Call us old-fashioned, but receiving some snail mail from our beloved USPS mail carriers is peak dopamine rush — especially when the elusive nature of an Instagram DM or Slack message makes our normal communications seem so unimportant.
A hand-written note is something special. Whether it contains a quick thank you or a heartfelt message, you want to send it on something made with quality materials.
And, of course, we want to do our best to reduce our carbon footprints in the process, so we rounded up some of our favorite eco-friendly stationery brands to help you find exactly the right aesthetic for your snail mail moments.
First, let’s learn a little bit more about stationery and making sustainable choices in our paper products.
But if you’re in a rush, here’s a quick breakdown of our top three picks:
→ Minted: Uses FSC-certified recycled paper with designs by independent artists
→ Paper Culture: Plants a tree with every order
→ Artifact Uprising: Design your own cards on recycled paper
By the way, some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Are paper products really bad for the environment?
You’ve likely heard someone in your office talk about “killing trees” when they hand out a stack of papers in a meeting, or folks ditching a receipt at the checkout counter to “save paper.” (Receipts come with their own environmental and health impacts, so definitely consider this next time you shop, too!)
But, are paper products like stationery and cards really bad for the environment?
Well, it depends.
People use a lot of paper. Like, a lot. According to The World Counts, globally, we produce 420,000,000 tons of paper and cardboard annually. That number equates to two pieces of paper for everyone on earth every single hour.
And we are indeed killing the trees — but we’re also doing more environmental damage than just that. The climate impact of paper production includes deforestation, enormous amounts of energy and water use, as well as air pollution. In fact, the paper industry is the largest single industrial consumer of water in Western countries.
Paper also accounts for about 26% of total waste in landfills, but the good news is that paper is also very easy to recycle, and we can do our part!
Statistics on Recycled Paper:
According to The World Counts, each ton of recycled paper can avoid the following:
- 17 trees
- 1,440 liters of oil
- 2.3 cubic meters of landfill space
- 4,000 kilowatts of energy
- 26,500 liters of water
Similarly, eco-friendly paper is a great option, too. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) gives certifications to paper companies that have less of an impact on the environment by sourcing paper from FSC-managed forests.
The FSC has faced valid criticism, but we do find its certifications process to be a helpful starting point for understanding brands’ thoughtfulness when it comes to their paper sourcing.
The FSC is a global network of over 1,000 individuals and member organizations that work in a democratic system to find solutions to safeguard healthy, resilient forests around the globe.
This work to safeguard forests is done through a set of responsible forestry standards, including:
- Zero deforestation
- Safeguarding of ancient and endangered forests
- Fair wages and work environments
- Biodiversity preservation
- Community rights, including the rights of Indigenous peoples
So, what do you say? Can we stick to recycled and eco-friendly stationery products moving forward?
How to shop eco-friendly stationery
First of all, as we always like to remind you, the best and most sustainable products are the ones you already own! Get crafty with scrap paper or send an e-card, if you can. But if you’re looking for some professional personal stationery, a holiday card, or even wedding invitations, there are sustainable options out there.
When shopping for eco-friendly stationery, you’ll want to consider the brand’s social responsibility, packaging materials, as well as the way products are manufactured.
Keep an eye out for those Forest Stewardship Council certifications we mentioned earlier, too. FSC Certified paper products have less impact on the environment by using sustainable sourcing or post-consumer waste.
By the way, post-consumer waste is just what we toss in our recycling bins. It’s the stuff average humans use and discard. Post-industrial waste, on the other hand, is the waste generated from the manufacturing process before it gets to us as consumers.
With that in mind, FSC labels might include certifications like FSC 100% (the products contain wood from FSC-certified forests), FSC Recycled (the products are made from recycled material), or FSC Mix (the products are made from FSC-certified forests and recycled materials).
All of that being said, we took out some of the guesswork in finding responsible stationery products for you to add to your collection.
The best sustainable stationery brands to shop —
Minted
This article is presented and supported by Minted — and as a part of that, we were able to test out the Minted shopping experience and some stationery products to add a brief review to this particular section. Everything in this article was independently and honestly written by the Good Good Good team. Thank you!
What’s good: Minted is a marketplace with unique designs by independent artists. The company uses 100% recyclable packaging that is made from over 80% recycled, post-consumer waste or plant-based materials.
Minted’s stationery is available with recycled paper options, made with FCS-certified 100% post-consumer waste for a smooth matte-finish, all manufactured with wind power! It’s exciting to think about something as simple as the card on your desk being created with all kinds of natural materials out in the world.
Whether you need professional stationery for your own business, new holiday cards, or even invitations for your kiddo’s birthday party, you can choose recycled options from Minted and mail your stationery mindfully.
In fact, all recycled paper options are optimized for the highest photo print quality, so you can feel good about the visual aspect of your purchase, no matter what you pick.
Stationery options:
- Personalized Stationery
- Foil-Pressed Stationery
- Thank You Cards
- Business Stationery
- Holiday Stationery (check out this season’s new collection!)
- Kids Stationery
- Also: Wedding Suites, Gift Wrap, Art Prints, Textile Art, Photo Pillows, and Gifts
Price: Check current prices
Kamrin’s thoughts: Minted sent me my own set of recycled stationery, and I selected the Happiness stationery set, complete with my own personalizations. Of course, I selected the recycled paper option, which runs a few dollars more, but has a tangible quality that can’t be beat.
Minted’s stationery options are endless and all have their own beautiful designs that can be customized to your unique liking. I loved shopping around for the perfect fit and selecting features to make my purchase more sustainable and better fitted to my needs. I loved how fun this design was, and the paper quality is truly impressive.
My stationery came in a beautiful recyclable box that can be used for storage, as well.
→ Shop Minted’s Personalized Stationery
Papier
What’s good: Papier is a UK-based paper goods company (don’t worry; there’s a U.S. shop with normal shipping rates!) dedicated to curious designs and sustainable practices. With FSC-certified paper goods, Papier creates items on a made-to-order basis to reduce waste, all while shipping your new sleek stationery in simple, recyclable packaging.
Stationery options:
- Notecards
- Letter Writing Paper
- Thank You Card Sets
- Also: Invitations, Planners, Notebooks, Gifts, and Desk Accessories
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Papier’s sustainable stationery
Twigs Paper
What’s good: Twigs Paper’s mantra is: “If we can’t do it sustainably, we won’t do it at all.” The paper company uses 100% recycled post-consumer waste paper that is FSC-certified. Instead of using carbon or nuclear energy, Twigs products are made with biogas (energy released from landfills that is captured and used as renewable energy).
Additionally, Twigs uses non-toxic inks to prevent air and water pollution. Twigs ships products completely plastic-free. Their national park line makes for a great gift for the national park lover in your life.
Stationery options:
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop sustainable paper goods from Twigs
Paper Culture
What’s good: Paper Culture creates stationery and other paper goods by combining the sentiment of paper with modern design. To create these products, Paper Culture uses 100% post-consumer waste and wood alternatives and offset the company’s carbon footprint by planting a tree with every order.
Stationery options:
- Monogram Stationery
- Thank You Card Sets
- Personalized Stationery for Adults
- Personalized Stationery for Kids
- Photo Stationery
- Also: Holiday Cards, Photo Books, and Wedding Paper Suites.
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Paper Culture’s eco-friendly stationery
Artifact Uprising
What’s good: You may already know and love Artifact Uprising for its gorgeous, high-quality photo books and prints. The company creates photo prints and paper goods with recycled materials, so you can cherish your favorite memories — and not at the cost of the planet. They make it easy to turn your photos into beautiful stationery.
Stationery options:
- Design Your Own Folded Cards
- Design Your Own Flat Cards
- Thank You Cards
- Holiday Cards
- Also: Photo Books, Wedding Save the Dates, Calendars, and Frames
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Artifact Uprising for photo prints and stationery
Em & Friends
What’s good: Em & Friends is a paper goods and gift company created by Emily McDowell and Knock Knock to bring together like-minded artists to make high-quality goods.
Their famous “Empathy Cards” help you find the words to say when you don’t quite know what to say. Examples include: “There is no good card for this. I’m so sorry” and “Please let me be the first to punch the next person who tells you everything happens for a reason. I'm sorry you're going through this.”
All paper products are printed in Los Angeles using soy inks on recycled paper.
Stationery options:
- Birthday Cards
- Thank You Cards
- Encouragement Cards
- Anniversary & Love Cards
- Mental Health Cards
- Sympathy/Empathy Cards
- Also: Journals, Card Decks, Notepads, Magnets, and Postcard Books
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Em & Friends cards made from recycled materials
Quilling Card
What’s good: Quilling Card is a greeting card company that uses the historical art of quilling, which shapes pieces of paper into a rolled, 3D decorative design.
These cards encourage recipients to not just read and throw them away, but to give a second life to the greeting card by turning it into accessible art.
Quilling Card is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and each card is meticulously handcrafted by artisans in Ho Chi Minh City. Each piece takes one hour to create, encouraging a slow production cycle and longer product lifespan. Quilling Card also offers braille options!
Stationery options:
- Just Because
- Birthday Cards
- Holiday Cards
- Love Cards
- Special Occasion Cards
- Also: Decorative Wall Art, DIY Kits, and Luxury Pens
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Quilling Card’s greeting cards
Botanical Paperworks
What’s good: Botanical Paperworks offers seed paper products from coasters to save-the-date cards. Botanical Paperworks’ plantable seed paper is a biodegradable eco-paper made with post-consumer and post-industrial paper waste that is embedded with seeds.
When the paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds grow and the paper composts away. All that is left behind is flowers, herbs, or vegetables — and zero waste.
Stationery options:
- Letterhead
- Thank You Notes
- Event Stationery
- Business Stationery
- Holiday Cards
- Birthday Cards
- Also: Wedding Invitations, Eco-Friendly Confetti, Packaging Materials, and Bookmarks
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop Botancial Paperworks seed paper stationery
Oblation Papers & Press
What’s good: Based in Oregon, Oblation Papers & Press creates handmade paper with 100% cotton remnants from the garment industry. Using traditional paper mill techniques, the papermakers are either in the production studio or at the letterpress making custom stationery and invitations with soy-based inks.
Additionally, Oblation gives back to its community through the Children’s Healing Art Project and other projects with local schools and churches.
Stationery options:
- Handmade Paper Packs
- Custom Letterpress Stationery
- Letterpress Card Sets
- Custom Address Labels
- Thank You Notes
- Greeting Cards
- Also: Wedding Invitations, Papermaking Kits, Notebooks and Journals, and Fountain Pens
Price: Check current prices
→ Shop handmade stationery from Oblation Papers & Press
Craft Your Own DIY Paper
Want to learn a fun new skill and turn your snail mail into something sustainable? Take old bills and junk mail into something special and create your own paper! Check out this how-to video or blog to get started.
You’ll just need a paper-making deckle and a few other (more-normal) things.
Thrifted or Secondhand Stationery
Sometimes others aren’t as committed to the craft of letter writing as you are. And when that happens, boxes of gorgeous cards end up at a thrift store. Regardless of what kind of paper, ink, or production processes were used to make these cards, you can feel great about making good use of them because you’re saving them from a landfill and giving them a second life.
Next time you’re at a thrift shop or consignment store, keep an eye out for half-empty boxes of stationery. You can also keep an eye on eBay and other secondhand selling platforms.
P.S. Looking for stationery for the holidays? Check out our guide to the best eco-friendly holiday & Christmas cards!
Send some snail mail without hurting the planet.
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