A business card is the first impression of your brand. When you meet someone who could be a client or a connection, don’t you want them to walk away with an excellent first impression? People’s assumptions frequently dictate their behaviour (or at least influence it). Beliefs are easy to make but challenging to disapprove.
Therefore, if someone’s first impression of the company is negative, it will be hard, if not impossible, to demonstrate the opposite is true. A business card isn’t just a piece of paper with your details on. It’s a physical reminder of the meeting and the first step in building an effective relationship.
Sadly, business cards are produced from processed wood. In many cases, they’re discarded after a single use, leading to the accumulation of waste. Some business cards get recycled, but most end up in landfills. So, what’s the alternative solution? If you’re interested in a more sustainable way to share contact information, please continue reading to discover how to become more eco-friendly.
Use Materials That Have Minimal or No Impact on The Environment
Business cards are typically printed on 14-point cardstock, 16-point cardstock, or 100 lb gloss cover. They’re meant to last, inside a person’s wallet or hovering in someone’s purse, so they can withstand wear and tear. The higher the weight, the more rigid the paper. Cardstock is thicker and more durable compared to writing and printing paper, yet thinner and more flexible than other forms of paperboard.
It’s regarded by many brands as the quick-win solution to help them achieve their targets, but the paper often ends up in landfills, where its degradation rate decelerates. Equally, business cards are often laminated with plastic, becoming non-recyclable.
There’s a better way to leave your mark. Interest in sustainability ranges across political affiliations and countries, which means that individuals engage in more eco-friendly behaviours. Consequently, they punish companies that refuse to make sustainable choices or encourage environmentally harmful practices.
A business card can be made from seeded paper, a ground-breaking product made out of recyclable materials embedded with seeds. Depending on the type of seed and process used, various colours, thicknesses, and patterns can be obtained. You can purchase seeded paper from specialised retailers. You can be sure that no trees have been harmed for the paper.
Go With a Minimalist Design
Minimalism favours function over form, so it encourages the use of long-term, durable, and eco-friendly materials. Simply put, it’s a tool that can help you achieve freedom. Everything is in place, so the business card creates the impression that your brand knows what it’s doing. Not only is a minimalist design more impactful, but it’s also more inviting.
Regardless of whether you’re a photographer or a doctor, the minimalist style is for you. It simplifies and clarifies your message, so you don’t risk overwhelming the audience with too much information or clutter. Concentrate on clean lines, bold typography, and simple graphics if you want to stand out.
The minimalist design follows a few key rules, such as:
• Less is more: Simplicity is much better than elaborate embellishment. The point is that it’s easy to overdo something. Simplify the visual by eliminating unnecessary elements. The business card can be horizontal and with big typography.
• Create a balance between text & graphics: Rather than using intricate fonts, you should better stick to simple fonts that are easier to read. Use the white space effectively and avoid anything that makes the business card look overcrowded. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the words in the picture are worth even more. Too much text, and you drown the message; too many images, and you overwhelm the viewer.
• Use minimal colour: Choose one or two colours that represent your brand. You can use muted blues or greens. Colours can help you evoke different moods and emotions, so you should have some knowledge about colour theory.
• Get professional printing: Once you’ve created your business card, it’s time to print. High-quality printing can help you create visually appealing and effective marketing materials. Think of it as an investment for your business.
Make The Business Card Easily Disposable
Recycling isn’t just a matter of recovering material. It’s a complete economic ecosystem. Limit resource use (and energy use) by producing a business card that is recyclable. A recyclable business card can be diverted from the waste stream for use as raw material for another product.
Seed paper isn’t recyclable, but it’s biodegradable, so when the paper is planted in a pot full of soil, the seeds grow, and the paper becomes compost. If you want your business card to reflect your new mission, visit Greengiving (https://www.greengiving.eu/) and check out the seed paper business cards.
As biodegradable products break down over time, this translates into a substantial reduction in the volume of waste being created. If there’s less waste taking up the space in landfills, there’s less waste to manage. As mentioned previously, seeded paper is derived from recycled or upcycled materials, with the seeds included in the papermaking process.
When planted, the paper decomposes, and the seeds begin to germinate. Even if plants grow at different rates, you’re bound to see the seeds sprouting within a few weeks. Receiving a biodegradable business card that can be planted is certainly better than dumping it into the recycling bin.
Concluding Thoughts
All in all, your marketing efforts must be accompanied by genuine investments in sustainability, and an eco-friendly business card should do the trick. In numerous industries, business cards are a requirement, or at least a helpful tool, as far as networking and making professional contacts is concerned. There’s no compromise when it comes to sustainability.
A business card made from seeded paper is lightweight yet durable, and the colours will come out vividly. Even if the touted benefits seem overstated, it’s net superior. As seed paper has different densities, the sheets can vary slightly in weight.
As an entrepreneur, it’s important to make as many sustainable choices as possible to reduce your carbon footprint. One way to do this is to make the transition to eco-friendly business cards.
