Earth Friendly Packaging!

One thing that I was 100% sure on from the very start of this venture was that I wanted my business to have as little impact on the environment as possible. Having learnt so much about the impact of plastics and toxic chemicals on both wildlife and the general environment, I felt that it would be hypercritical of me not to do this! It took me a LOT of research and I made so many notes that I confused myself on many occasions, but in the end I got there! One of the things that was fantastic to see was just how many businesses/companies there are out there which provide plastic-free and eco alternatives, not only making my decision harder as to where I bought from, but also showing that there is definitely a shift towards the more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of living. There are still aspects that I am working on and need to improve, and in some cases the use of plastic packaging is out of my control, but I am pleased with what I have managed to find so far that works so well for my business. I shall post the links to the places I’ve used down below in the reference section for anyone who is interested.

In this blog I shall be focusing only on the packaging element of my business. I will do one at a later date on the materials I use to produce my artwork too, but that ventures down a slightly different path and so I shall cover that another time.

Step 1:

To start with, once a commission is complete I package it into an acid-free glassine envelope.

Glassine is a pulp-like paper material and the envelopes I use are made from 100% PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) pure pine wood cellulose. These envelopes provide a protective layer that is resistant to grease, air and water, preventing any unwanted substances from getting onto your artwork. The process used to make glassine is called supercalendering. Calendering is where the pulp is beaten down and pressed into moulds where it is left to dry. The dry sheets are then pressed through hot rollers causing all the fibres to lie flat in the same direction. The ‘super’ part is used because this process is repeated several times in order for the smooth glassine finish to be created.

The benefit of this process is that it can be done at a neutral pH level, meaning the final result is acid-free. The reason why the paper I use for my artwork and all the other components relating to the packaging and displaying of artwork need to be acid free, is because elements that have an acidic pH can cause permanent damage to a piece of art. The acid can transfer and mix with the materials used leading to decomposition over time. Therefore anything that is acid-free or has a neutral pH of 7 ensures your artwork will last for many years.

This process also doesn’t involve waxing or chemical finishing, and the envelopes I use do not contain dyes. This means that these envelopes are 100% compostable and biodegradable. Unlike plastic which can take hundreds of years to decompose, glassine takes an average of 6-8 months in home compost or as little as 45 days in industrial composting. So, these sleeves can be placed in your garden waste bin or on a compost heap in your garden and the CO2, water and soil nutrients will break down the fibres nicely! Shredding the sleeve first and placing it in an area with greater levels of sunlight and water availability will help to speed up the decomposition process.

Step 2:

Once sealed within the glassine envelope your artwork is then placed inside a cardboard envelope or green jiffy bag. I use the strong and sturdy cardboard envelopes for pieces that are A4 size or smaller. These envelopes are made from 100% recycled and corrugated paper which is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved. The envelopes have no plastic residue what-so-ever and are printed with eco-friendly water-based inks meaning no toxins are released into the environment when it breaks down. If not reused or recycled, these envelopes can be composted in as little as three months by shredding the envelope and soaking in clean water, before mixing the ‘pulp-like’ residue into the soil. The microorganisms will then do all the hard work of breaking it down into lovely nutrient-rich compost for your garden!

For larger artwork I use green Jiffy bags where the artwork is sandwiched between two sheets of sturdy greyboard. These jiffy’s are made using corrugated cardboard instead of plastic bubble wrap to provide protective padding, meaning once again this packaging element can be composted. However, recycling the jiffy instead allows it to be re-used time and time again. I eventually want to look into starting a recycling scheme where clients who receive larger artworks can post the greyboard sheets back to me in the jiffy using a pre-paid label. That way I will be able to re-use the greyboard for sending off another commission.

Strong cardboard envelopes supplied by lil-packaging, and A3 size green jiffy.

Included in the package:

I include an artwork care guide with recommendations of how to store and display your special piece of art. This is printed onto acid-free recycled paper which I print on demand at home to save costs and resources. I recommend that those receiving original pieces of art keep this guide somewhere safe to be referred to in the future if needed. However should people choose to discard it, then it can be placed in the recycling bin. For anything I print at home using my Canon home/office printer I use refillable ink cartridges that contain edible inks. This means that I do not have to constantly throw away empty plastic cartridges, saving me a bit of money in the long run. Likewise the edible inks only contain substances that would be safe for humans to consume (although I don’t recommend that you eat these guides!), meaning no harmful chemicals are released into the environment. It is also healthier for me when printing at home, and again cuts down the cost as I can buy long-lasting tubs of refillable inks.

I also include a couple of my cotton business cards which I had produced by moo.com. These are made from recycled T-shirt fabric. There are lots of off-cuts produced in the fashion industry and rather than them go to waste, moo.com is using them to produce another product instead! Again if not kept or passed on to someone else, these can be placed in your recycling bin.

I like to provide a hand-written thank you note to each of my customers, because it really does mean so much that you have come to me for a commission. Not only are you putting your trust in me as an artist, but you are supporting my business and allowing me to live my dream, so a thank you note is the least I can do! I understand that many people see cards as a waste of paper because after being read and displayed they are generally just thrown away. Whilst the majority are recyclable, it takes a lot of energy to clean the original material and re-use it. That’s why I’ve chosen to produce my own thank you notes using seeded paper, making them plantable! The paper is once again made using post-consumer recycled cotton so it is already doing good by reducing waste and containing no trees, but it also contains a range of native British wildflower seeds. So, once you have finished with the note you can soak it in some clean water and tear it into small pieces. Place these pieces in a pot of compost with a light sprinkling of compost on top, water regularly and keep in a warm, light environment and watch your very own mini wildflower patch appear. Once the plants have begun to establish and the weather is of a suitable temperature outside in the spring, then you can then transfer the plants to your garden. If you don’t have a garden or are growing the seeds during the winter months then you can plant them in a pot inside, keep in a warm place with plenty of natural light and enjoy the burst of colour the flowers bring to your home. Whilst the majority of the wildflower seeds used in this paper are of flowers that are important for bees, they will attract a wide array of other bugs and beasties too! I also use plantable paper for my earth-friendly packaging guides provided with your thank you note so you can do the same thing with that and produce double the amount of wildflowers!

Unfortunately I can only send these notes out to UK based customers at the moment due to the risk of introducing non-native species to other countries. There are a lot of phytosanitary regulations that have to be considered when transferring any plant-based materials across the globe, and unless the seeded paper has a certificate then it will be confiscated at customs. However I have recently found a company that produce seeded paper that is safe for planting in most corners of the world, so I am looking into costs associated with buying from them in the near future. Additionally I am excited to be working on my very own card range which will be printed by me onto this plantable paper too!

A sheet of the plantable seeded paper (left) and Lokta paper (right), and my sugarcane stickers.

Other components

I like to make my packaging as endearing as possible because you have paid a lot of money for this unique piece of art and therefore I treat it like a luxury gift item. It is only fair you can enjoy every aspect of the process and hopefully it makes the unwrapping experience that little bit more special (because honestly, most of the post we get on a day to day basis is pretty boring to open!). That’s why I wrap all my portraits in acid-free tissue that matches my brand colours. If not reused then this tissue can be recycled. I secure the tissue using natural twine or hemp ribbon which contains no plastic and again can be reused, recycled or composted.

For all original pieces of work, whether a pet portrait or wildlife piece, I include a certificate of authenticity as it proves originality and helps to trace the artworks’ history if required in the future. I therefore recommend retaining this certificate directly with your artwork or in a safe place. I have decided to print my certificates of authenticity at home on my own printer to reduce costs and keep energy required by out-sourced production minimal. As mentioned before, I like to try and add unique aspects to my business and so I have decided to print my certificates on handmade Lokta paper. Lokta plants, also known as Daphne Bhoula or Daphne Papyracea, are native to Nepal and are found anywhere in the Himalayan region above 3000 metres. This plant provides a renewable way of creating paper as it can be harvested just above ground level and does not destroy the root system, meaning the plant regenerates within 2-4 years. No electricity or synthetic additives are used in the creation of this paper; instead it is created using the traditional Nepalese floating mould method where the pulp is poured onto a frame which is then placed out in the sun until the sheet has completely dried. Buying and using this paper supports local artisans and communities of the Himalayas, whilst ensuring a traditional practice that has been passed down for generations remains active.

Any tape that I use within my packaging is made from plastic-free kraft paper that has a natural plant-based adhesive so it can be composted or recycled. Additionally my stickers are recyclable and biodegradable as they are printed onto ‘paper’ made from 95% sugar cane fibres and 5% hemp and linen. Sugarcane, or bagasse as it is also called, is the left-over stalk from the sugarcane plant. The plants are used to make juice but the bagasse is the non-edible by-product that is usually just wasted and incinerated. However this material is now being recognised as an eco-friendly and renewable alternative for many products, such as paper, packaging products and even cups and bowls, giving it a new lease of life and reducing the chemicals released during burning. It is also being used as a biofuel within the heat, energy and electricity industries.

I hope this blog has given you peace of mind that when coming to me as your artist you are not only getting a high-quality and long-lasting piece of art; but can also be sure that every care has been taken to have minimal impact on the environment, helping both you and I do our bit for the planet!