stamp of approval

If you could eat three pieces of cake for the calorie count of one, or take three trips to an exotic destination for the carbon footprint of a single flight, wouldn’t you do it? So why pay to print your return address on each envelope in your wedding paper trio (save the dates, invitations and thank you notes) when you can buy an eco-friendly, custom-made rubber stamp—made with 80-100% recycled materials and packaging—for about $12. (Actually, that’s like getting 300 pieces printed for pennies each but you get the point!) If you wanted to get really creative, you could ask your calligrapher (or enlist the help of an artistic friend) to handwrite your return address, scan in the image and turn it into whatever type of file the stamp-maker requires (jpeg, pdf, etc). Or take it one step further by designing a personalized image or monogram stamp to embellish your envelopes, too. Even if you’re not super adept at graphic design, chances are you know someone who can help you out.

Envelopes can add hundreds of dollars to your printing costs, especially if you opt for an engraver or letterpress studio. And no matter how you slice it, printing is incredibly labor and resource intensive. Even printers who employ responsible practices and use nontoxic inks still end up with waste to recycle and carbon emissions to offset. By choosing another route altogether, you’ll be guilt-free and wallet-heavy. Talk about having your cake.