In this era of voice mail, email and messages limited to 140 characters telling friends and family how and what you’re doing, a genuine hand written message is a true gift.
Of course, there’s no wrong way to tell someone you care. As long as you’re speaking from the heart, the sentiment will surely be appreciated. But a handwritten note expressing encouragement to a friend or relative who may be going through a difficult time is more personal. A real letter dropped in the snail mail will brighten someone’s day, and now it’s possible to do without killing trees or contributing to the clear-cutting our forests.
Tree free paper is a reality and seems to be a viable replacement for traditional paper, with options including Banana Paper, Coffee Paper, Mango Paper, Lemon Paper and Cigar Paper. The base fibers are composted with paper that’s already been used in some way; this is most likely office paper, tetra pack containers, magazines and newspapers collected and sent to the mill to later be mixed with agricultural fibers.
A surprisingly attractive product that is environmentally friendly and of very good quality, tree free paper isn’t mainstream yet, but you can find more information about it and purchase the products online at EcoPaper and GreenfieldPaper.
Send the kids off to school this year with a fun, great looking banana paper notebook. Jot down your thoughts, travels, recipes and experiences in a tree free banana paper journal, or send a personal note card on lemon paper (top image) with a drop of your favorite scented essential oil.
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Lori Hernandez, who operates DealHippie, a site dedicated to finding greener choices for stuff we use everyday and affordable solutions for an eco-friendly lifestyle. Thanks for the great tips, Lori!
Image: EcoPaper