“Oh, what a lovely invite!”

That’s the reaction we all want, as it is the first impression of what to expect from the event to follow.

Invitation card designer to many of India’s celebrities and business tycoons, Kapil Khurana of The Entertainment Design Company, knows the amount of thought and effort that goes into creating that first impression. He feels that there is not enough awareness about sustainability in the market, making it unviable to become a wholly sustainable solution provider, as the demand is simply not there. However, like most other solution providers, they are always ready to innovate and create invitations that people will treasure for a lifetime.

Our task, therefore, is to create awareness, to let the discerning client know that everything is possible, if only you ask.

You take great care in designing, printing and packaging your invitations which, after a few days, are invariably trashed and end up in landfills because elaborate embellishments such as glitter, foil, plastic laminates, glue and chemical inks make them difficult or impossible to recycle.

Regardless of your event size, here are a few simple steps that you can take to positively impact the environment while creating the best first impression.

Ditch the plastic cover

The function of an envelope is to protect and cover the card. When did we start protecting and covering the envelope with single-use plastic? Let’s take the easiest first step by ditching the useless plastic cover that’s immediately ripped off and carelessly thrown away without so much as a backward glance. If you’re worried about rain damage, check out waterproof stone paper. Renuka Shah from Jalebi feels that building awareness and therefore demand for this wonderful eco-friendly option will hopefully replace the cheap plastic cover.

Choose alternative paper

Besides stone paper mentioned above, there are so many other interesting alternatives available. Seed paper, elephant dung paper, hand-made paper with rose petals, paper made from remnants of cotton fabric, the list is endless. It looks better, creates a more lasting impression on your guests and contributes to a circular economy. Speak with your printer for more amazing options, support a local hand-made paper craftsperson who can infuse the paper with your preferred seeds or petals or check out a wholesaler.

Think about the ink

The type of ink that is used affects the quality of recycling and impacts the reusability of paper. Ask your printer or designer about plant-based inks as they make it easier to recycle printed material which otherwise needs to undergo a lengthy de-inking process. A lot of ink manufacturers are now developing water-based inks to cater to the growing market of environmentally conscious consumers.

Make it a work of art

People find it hard to discard cards with religious images on them. Also, you don’t want your card to just end up in the trash after you’ve spent so much time, effort and money on it, so why not make it into a keepsake. Mohit Uberoi of Classic India works with local artists to create an invite that can be preserved, “Keeping in mind the rich art culture of our society and our country, we promote local art forms and concepts in our wedding stationery range. We are associated with a lot of artisans pan India who specialise in Madhubani Paintings, Kalamkari Art, Ikat prints, Block Printing, Zentangle Art, Phulkari prints and many more.”

Are you progressive enough to go digital?

Many couples are hugely reducing the carbon footprint of their wedding by replacing traditional printed invitations with e-vites. This not only eliminates the need for paper altogether but reduces the cost and energy of printing, packaging and transporting. There are many websites and mobile applications such as Minted, Evite, Greenvelope, Paperless Post which allow you to design your own invitations or choose from independent artists. You can go a step ahead and create a website for the event with all the details.

Whether you choose the digital route completely or decide to create just a few thoughtful invitations, consider the environment around you. Think of the love and labour that goes into your wedding preparation and choose the steps that will leave a better world for the future generations that this joyful wedding union will give birth to. Leave an impression that really matters.

You may also want to check these out :

Have you already found the perfect venue?

Get some inspiration from the lovely green celebration of wedding planner Minal Bhatnagar and environmentalist Vimlendu Jha.