plastic free greeting cards

The other day i was wandering through Tescos – recycling plastic coat hangers (of course) – when I came across the greetings cards.

Many of them were unwrapped ie not in the clear protective plastic packets… which surprised me.

So if you need a plastic free card you could buy them Tescos though these are my preffered options…

Carte Postallegreen cards which can be bought from local card shop in Byrams arcade.

Huddersfields own Dig The Earth- locally made cards in cornstarch, compostable bags.

It is worth checking local newsagents and post offices as they sometimes sell unwrapped cards.

You can find other plastic free products with the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index

Newspaper and amarylis

This valentines day I refused to add the mountain of plastic rubbish created by buying plastic wrapped flowers.

My cunning plan to avoid plastic wrapped flowers … buy flowers from a florist and insist they are wrapped in paper … back fired.

Sadly  my florist had no paper – except an old newspaper.

Not quite the image I was going for but better than more plastic rubbish in my bin ….

My love is like a great mound of rubbish

You don’t even want to know how many plastic wrapped roses we are going to get through on this one Valentine’s day. Oh you do? According to the Flowers & Plants Association, “sales of all fresh flowers double on Valentine’s day, with over 9 million red roses being given in the UK. Worldwide, billions of roses – mostly red – are traded on this one day alone.”

A mind bending statistic that raises numerous concerns – however as this is a plastic obsessed blog lets think about the amount of rubbish 9 million roses will create.

Now some people may tell you that flowers come cellophane wrapped and that cellophane is a plant based plastic and so biodegradable. Cellophane was indeed a plant based plastic. However as most piano keys are no longer made of ivory most cellophane is now longer plant derived. The term cellophane has come to used to describe the petroleum based plastic product that looks and feels just like it.

So 9 million roses,  many of them wrapped in  plastic, thats in the uk alone  -arghhhh.

So this year my husband will be going to a florist buying one bloom and insisting that  it is wrapped in paper.

It will of course be a complete suprise to me.

The purty picture is  Valentines Day Red Rose   Originally uploaded by Justin Lucarelli

Febuary and love is in the air…

Valentines day -need a card? so check these out

Huddersfield based company and cute cards and plastic free – ooohh baby that feels really good….

Dont like wooden hearts? They have monkey cards and love words … check the etsy site or try the blog for more 

Read the blurb….
100% RECYCLED WITH BIO-DEGRADABLE CLEAR BAG

Printed on 100% recycled smooth white board. Each card comes with 100% recycled C6 brown craft paper envelope inside a clear bio-degradable bag. The bag is made from corn starch which is fully bio-degradable and compostable, breaking down to just CO2 and H2O – as green as you can get!

Dig The Earth!

For other plastic free cards check these out.

Forget the plastic cards

Cards  have been the bane of Pams life - I mean greeting cards not gambling or credit cards – thats all in the past.

Greeting cards  — there are times when you need to send them … but when you go to buy them they come wrapped in icky plastic.

I love my friends but I love the planet – what to do.  I know you can send e cards but thats just mean. No cards = no mates in Pams shallow social circles.

So check these out from  carte postale – printed on sustainable board, printed with vegetable inks but best of all from Pams point of view – they come in biodegradable cellophane wrappers.

Kaloo Kalay

While talking of things celebratory,  its that time of year for spending -  on clothes on presents on food.  For those of you who live near Huddersfield check this out for a range of eco duds and locally made gifts.

October & Halloween madness

My ongoing solution to nasty plastic pollution is to boycott unnecessary plastic products and source plastic free solutions.

I know that halloween is a time of plastic madness but I beg you to consider just how truely evil all that plastic is.

This month I am planning my plastic free haloween party

plastic free  childrens trick or treat bags

disposable party products – plates forks etc

Biodegradable lanterns

Shrouds that rot naturally and paper witches hats. 

To see what else  I have given click here.

Each month a record what plastic pledges I have broken – for more  click right here

This months image comes form  Rootzz 4worldpeace! and is called  trick or tree. To see  more follow the link or click on the image.

Biodegradable ghosts

Halloween Junk at K-Mart

Originally uploaded by S. B. Panno

Pam hates to be a pooper but please do say no to Halloween plastic. You dont need to buy a plastic  outfit  – go as a ghost  - make good with the old sheet and tomato ketchup (in glass bottles).

Or make your own witches hat out of  black sugar paper.

Its so much more fun.

Pams plastic free pumpkin lights

You know I wont be buying any of these – this October finds me busy carving my own biodegradable lantern. Its easy – buy your self a vegetable, hollow it out cut out a face and stick a candle in.

It used to be that I was too tight to buy a pumpkin so made swede heads – but I have to admit that swede soup is not as nice. And with Tescoes selling pumpkins for  £1.50 hardly worth the extra effort. Its hard work hollowing out swedes.

The Great Plastic Pumpkin Patch.JPG

Originally uploaded by Rad1·· ± » ° /*

Plastic Free Parties

Tis the season of many a party so here are my plastic free party tips

For biodegradable forks. glasses, plates and recycled napkins try these guys. They are cheap but you have to buy in the hundreds. Great if its a big do but for  smaller amounts try these

“Picnic, wedding or BBQ, impress your guests with our stylish, eco-friendly party products.
From bamboo plates to organic cotton bunting our party supplies are as unique and beautiful as they are kind to the earth.  For more go to the eco party site“

If you want eco party bags for the kiddywinks try these

Halloween party bags

well my nasty little ghouls and ghosties you will be getting no plastic wrapped sweeties if you call at my house.

But may be just maybe if you come carrying one of these plastic free trick or treat bags I might not turn the power hose on you…. WHAT?? Thats not unreasonable.

To purchase these and other plastic free environmnetally kind party bags go to www.littlecherry.co.uk