Sustainable Stationery

Here at SAGE, I am a big believer that we should all aim to live a more sustainable lifestyle. There are small efforts in everyday life that can make such a huge impact on a large scale, such as no longer buying single use plastic water bottles and investing in that Stanley water bottle you’ve been eyeing off (buy it!)

I believe that beautiful events shouldn’t cost us the earth. A single wedding often means a number of events such as engagement parties, bridal showers, hens weekends and of course the wedding itself which means purchasing and creating custom items that are single use.

When starting SAGE, I wanted to offer more sustainable options within an industry that often neglects and turns a blind eye to all of the waste that it produces.

So how do we combat such an issue where these elements will always be desired for such significant events in our lives?

Know where they come from, how they are made & where they will end up.

Knowing where your paper comes from is an important step to ensuring your paper is climate-friendly.

The paper stocks that are sourced all stem from wood pulp that is FSC-certified. FSC forests are managed to the highest environmental, social and economic standards. FSC papers are made with, or contain wood that comes from certified forests (trees planted for paper production) or from post-consumer waste. They're also 100% recyclable. The forests must be managed with due respect for the environment, the wildlife and the people who live and work in them.

The paper journey doesn’t stop there as the next process is very important to ensure a sustainable outcome overall is achieved. The paper sourced comes from reputable mills whose aim is for the longevity of the paper industry and who manufacture with clean, efficient and responsible technologies and ethical values.

So once the event is finished and the celebrations are all but cherished photographs and happy memories, some of the stationery elements will be kept, but most will be thrown away. The paper will either end up in the rubbish, where it will take approximately 6 weeks to break down, or in the recycling where it can have a second life. That’s a pretty good outcome in my eyes!

Brands SAGE use: Colorplan, Gmund & Eco Grandé

Sustainable from the start

What about Signage?

Foamboard & Acrylic Signage

There are other elements to a wedding day that have proven to be difficult to find sustainable alternatives for, this includes signage. Foamboard and acrylic signage are not recyclable, nor are they biodegradable, therefore it will last far longer than your marriage if you decide to disperse of it!

As more sustainable products are developed and become available, I will continue to test and trial them to ensure they are of high printing quality. In the meantime, there are excellent re-use centres such as Reverse Garbage here in Brisbane.

Linen Signage

Linen signage is both beautiful and more sustainable than other signage options. Linen signage can be kept as a keepsake as you can fold it and store it in a box, unlike other bulkier signage. The other alternative is that it can be used for scrap material, drop sheets, or dropped to a re-use facility for recycling.

Your Sustainable Event

So, if you are conscious about your impact throughout your wedding planning, you have come to the right place to get started! Investing in quality products means you can be rest assured that you are supporting good business’s doing good things.

Plastic Free Packaging

Did you know Australia generates over 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and only 9% is sent for recycling.* It’s not just about to the product that you are purchasing, it’s also about the packaging that it comes in. All of my packaging is completely plastic free, even down to the stickers and the tape, everything can be recycled or popped in your rubbish bin as it will eventually break down to nothing.

If you have any more questions in relation to sustainability, please get in touch with me at hello@sagebyannalise.com.au