Go green this holiday season with recycled paper cards!

Did you know that Americans send out about 2 billion cards during the Christmas holiday season? That’s a lot of paper cards and envelopes spreading holiday cheer to families and friends.

Some people, like me, keep all of these cards. Others throw them away once the holiday season is over, and these cards eventually end up as paper waste in our overcrowded landfills. So what’s the best way to reduce all of the waste created by greeting cards? Well, the most obvious way is to send an e-card, which requires no paper products at all. The second most obvious and eco-friendly way is to send a recycled holiday card!

When you send a recycled holiday card you will definitely feel good about your impact on the environment. These cards use recycled paper, sustainable inks and other eco-friendly products that add some extra green to your holiday cheer.

Here are 5 unique types of recycled holiday cards that you should check out this season:

1. Greenfield Paper Company Hemp Holiday Cards for 2009

This San Diego company offers two lines of handmade recycled paper cards: Grow-A- Note (plantable greeting cards that recycle into the soil once the Wildflower seeds start growing) and PaperEvolution (paper cards that consist of recycled company junk mail, coffee chaff, blue jean scraps and hemp).

Here’s a video of some Greenfield employees making tree-free paper:



2. Cards for Causes Bright Menorah Recycled Hanukkah Card

This card offered on CardsforCauses.com is made from recycled paper, and is FSC, Green-E and Green Seal Certified. The company donates 20% of every card purchases towards a nonprofit cause of your choice.

3. Night Owl Paper Goods Hybrid Snowman with Cap

This cute card is made from recycled yellow birch wood that was sustainably harvested.

4. Holiday Card by Yasmintoo on Artfire

This holiday card printed on natural fiber paper and recycled card stock can be used for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the New Year.

5. CardsDirect Recycle Symbol Decorated Christmas Tree Card

You can go green with this brown 100% recycled holiday card that’s made from 30% post-consumer fibers.