Yes, seed paper is always a more sustainable option than traditional paper.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that all seed paper is good for the environment, and understanding how your paper affects our natural world should be a key concern for all of us.
Seed paper seems like an ecological revolution just waiting to happen, but why hasn’t it taken off so far? The answer is more complex than you think, and seed paper is produced in a vast range of ways, some more planet-friendly than others.
Let’s take a closer look at the manufacturing processes of seed paper and find out if/which seed paper is good for the environment.
What is seed paper
To put it simply, seed paper, often referred to as plantable paper, is a form of paper embedded with seeds. The thickness, the number of seeds, and the materials used can vary greatly across the industry.
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We’ve separated these production methods into three clear processes and analysed their impact (positive or negative) on the environment:
- Handmade seed paper
- FSC certified seed paper
- Cotton seed paper
Handmade seed paper
Handmade seed paper is produced using 100% recycled paper. This can come in the form of newspapers, printing paper, marketing materials, or any paper that does not have a layer of lamination.
Paper will be blended to create a pulp. The pulp is mixed with seeds and portioned out into mould and deckles (large wooden frames with a sieve to drain excess water).
The pulp is flattened to achieve the required thickness (GSM) for each sheet. This will then be left to dry in the sun, with drainage from the mould and deckle’s sieve.
The main environmental concern when producing this paper is simply the use of water. To achieve a suitable pulp, the recycled paper must be mixed with large amounts of fresh, clean water.
While some water will be reused, much moisture will be lost during the drying process, with an impact on the planet. Despite this water waste, handmade seed paper is undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly method of manufacture.
FSC certified seed paper
Unlike handmade paper, FSC-certified seed paper uses virgin trees to create pulp for the paper. It’s worth noting that these are FSC-certified logging practices, but nevertheless, it is arguably less sustainable than using 100% recycled paper.
Chopping down trees is a necessity in our modern age; ensuring you’re doing it in ethical, sustainable ways is a personal responsibility.
At UK Seed Paper, we will never work with any manufacturers of wood pulp seed paper who cannot provide a genuine FCS certificate. This indicates clear adherence to responsible forest practices that allow timber to regenerate between cuts.
Cotton seed paper
Some seed paper is produced using cotton fibres Our personal experience is that the fibres within can hamper germination, so it’s a paper stock we avoid.
In terms of its environmental impact cotton seed paper is varied. Manufacturers can opt to use old clothes and materials, which is a planet-friendly option, but it does require sourcing.
Some producers use virgin cotton in their plantable paper. Cotton production is not particularly environmentally friendly. Large swathes of wild areas and habitats are often cleared to make way for large commercial cotton fields.
The conclusion
Handmade seed paper using 100% recycled paper materials is, without a doubt, the most environmentally friendly method to produce plantable paper.
It’s important to note that we have been examining the production process and its environmental impact. The seeds embedded in all these papers can help offset some of their environmental impacts simply by being planted and grown.
So if you’re looking to stay environmentally friendly, always opt for handmade seep paper, but most importantly, make sure you plant it!
