ECOSYSTEM
“It’s sent back, collected at the paper mills and made into new paper,” explains Mark Gavin, whose Canadian company Ecojot uses post-consumer recycled paper for its journals, note pads and jotters. “I think that’s a very powerful statement.” The end result is high-quality paper gift items, says Merle
TERRASKIN
Duffus, general manager of Island Blue Print, an art store in Victoria, British Columbia that carries Ecojot products. The company’s line of sketchbooks and related items for children— Eco Kids—is especially appealing to parents and kids alike, Duffus says. In keeping with McNulty’s thoughts, Duffus points out
that whimsical designs sell the products. Mark Gavin’s sister, Carolyn Gavin, is the artist behind the colorful designs.
Driving green innovation
Patti Stracher points out that manufacturers are getting increasingly creative about their approach to green.
Vegetable and soy-based inks are used of course but the materials being used to source the paper in the first place are also unusual. Stationery is now made from the unlikeliest of resources such as hemp and even elephant dung. Yes, dung! For instance, the vendor Poopoopaper wholesales a whole assortment of stationery made from elephant dung—they don’t smell. When selling these fun products, make sure to bring out the source in your display. These unusual materials make for hip conversation pieces, Stracher says. Another unusual source for stationery? Stone. TerraSkin, a
New York City supplier, makes paper from
stone. The company’s environmental director, Nicole Smith, says that in addition to the most obvious benefit (no trees being used), TerraSkin uses post-industrial waste material from the building industry. In other words, these are stones that are byproducts from the construction industry that would have made their way to the landfills were it not for this intervention. “The nice thing is during production, there is no water or bleach used,” Smith says, “We don’t have to modify for color and 50 percent less energy is used compared to what’s used for a regular sheet of paper,” she adds outlining the additional benefits. Many of TerraSkin’s clients use the product for packaging,
Smith says. At least one client—Canadian vendor Mitz— creates “rockpaper” notebooks using the material, and Smith believes this will be a TerraSkin product category that will see growth this year. “As a product, it’s nice because you end up with a water-
resistant and tear-resistant sheet,” she says. “It’s a bit more durable. It has a silky smooth texture to it. You feel like you are holding something luxurious.” She drives home the point of well-designed green that McNulty loves. “It’s green and glamorous,” Smith says.
PAPERBLANKS
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GREENRetailer n Spring 2010
Handmade luxury
Stationery products tend to sell well when they are handcrafted and intricately decorated, according to the
GREENRetailerMag.com
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