5 Unique Eco Friendly Christmas Cards For Your Holiday Wishes

If you are wondering where to order eco-friendly Christmas cards you have come to the right place! The holiday season can be pretty wasteful so finding ways to make more sustainable choices, even if they’re small can really add up!

With the holidays being such a busy (and expensive!) time of the year, I wanted to compile a convenient list of varying options for eco-friendly holiday cards for you to choose from.

After browsing through this list I can guarantee that you will find a card that fits your budget and style! 

This post is all about the best eco-friendly Christmas cards.

Best Eco-Friendly Christmas Cards

Is it environmentally friendly to send Christmas cards?

The quick answer is no. The honest answer is that it is nuanced (so maybe!), just like every other sustainability question we come up with! 

Cutting down a bunch of trees to make cards for a singular event is probably not the most eco-conscious choice. But there are alternatives if you want to keep the holiday spirit alive while also being kind to the planet.

I think it is important to balance doing what we can to be good stewards with to the earth while also maintaining joy in our own lives. In the grand scheme of things, your 20 Christmas cards once per year are not at fault for all of climate change.

Just make sure to scroll down this list to find the best eco-friendly holiday cards that are available! 

What can I do instead of a Christmas card?

Are there eco-friendly options for sending holiday greetings other than sending paper in the mail that people will probably throw away? 

There are! Here are some creative ideas for ways to send your heartfelt messages without paper:

• E-card (explained more below) 
• Caroling your holiday wishes (if singing is your thing!) 
• Calling or video chatting your loved ones on the day of the holiday 
• A holiday social media post-you can get creative by using Canva to make it extra festive 
• Stopping by your loved ones’ home or inviting them over 

In our disconnected world, sometimes it is easy to forget that time spent together is the most important gift. Even more so than a beautiful holiday card in my opinion!  

{RECOMMENDED POST: Your Go-to Guide For The Best Low Waste Holiday Gifts (Inspired By The 5 Love Languages!)}

Unique holiday cards and sustainable practices

I wanted to acknowledge that because these cards are not made from typical materials that are cheap to print and create, they will generally be more pricey!

It can take more time and money to source products sustainably, buy directly from artisans etc. I tried to include some budget-friendly sustainable holiday card options too though! 

Is it ok to recycle holiday cards?

Yes! It is totally fine to recycle Christmas cards. I wanted to include this because not only will you be sending out Christmas cards but you will probably be receiving quite a few holiday cards.

Instead of throwing them in the trash make sure they end up in your recycling bin. 

The best sustainable holiday card brands and options

1. 100% recycled paper Christmas cards with modern designs

Paper Culture recycled Cards

I just recently discovered Paper Culture and I fell in love! Their minimal Christmas cards are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and the envelopes are also made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. For every order you place, they plant a tree! That makes me feel so much better about ordering so much paper! 

Things I love about Paper Culture: 

• They offset their carbon footprint 
• They have planted over 1 million trees with their plant a tree for every order initiative
• They source sustainable materials. Each of their cards are made from 100% recycled paper and bamboo. 
• They are a certified green business and are recognized by the EPA as a top 10 climate leader

*This is also a great option for business Christmas cards that have a positive impact! 

If you are looking for a more traditional holiday card that is also eco-friendly Paper Culture is your best option!

{RECOMMENDED POST: 14 Affordable Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffer Ideas You Will Feel Good About Gifting}

2. Eco-friendly Etsy holiday cards for unique designs

Etsy has the cutest gifts and cards made by small businesses and artisans! 

Browse through the shops to find eco-friendly holiday cards that match your style and needs-they have tons of options!

Another way to shop from small businesses is to stop by local boutiques in your area where artists sell cards. Supporting local artists during the holiday season can really support your community. 

3. Homemade holiday cards from repurposed materials

Before you start making your own holiday cards- make sure there aren’t cards from last year that you haven’t used yet! Using what you already bought is a great way to be more eco-friendly. 

Next, get creative! 

You can use leftover paper, cardboard, food boxes, and then all of the fixings like markers, crayons, glitter etc.! Involving your kids and friends in a card-making party is a great way to get festive and share the eco-friendly holiday message with them too. 

4. Holiday Ecards rather than traditional holiday cards

Ecards are a great way to send holiday cards without having to really lift a finger, drive by the post office, or spend any money! 

Your holiday cards will be delivered directly to your loved ones’ email. So if you don’t know their address or they are living abroad etc. you can still send them an eco-friendly holiday card. 

 I found this great site that offers ecards for free and they have tons of different style. By not sending anything in the mail you are reducing the amount of waste that is eventually created when the holidays are over. 

If you are looking for a budget-friendly way to still send some holiday cheer, e-cards are your best option. 

5. Biodegradable greeting cards with a lower environmental impact

I think these are my favorites on the list! Essentially, these are greeting cards that have seeds within the paper. When your loved one is done enjoying the sweet message you wrote them you can bury the seed paper cards and they will grow wildflowers!  

I was able to find two plantable Christmas cards: one that is a holiday theme and one that is a more general theme. I love these because they don’t add to landfill waste!

The only caveat to biodegradable greeting cards with seeds is that you have to be mindful of where the seeds are going to when you send your cards out. If your loved one lives in an area that doesn’t have that type of plant it could accidentally introduce a species that shouldn’t be there!

Just do a little research before sending them out or let the recipient know! 

{RECOMMENDED POST: Our Favorite 8 Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas For Every Occasion}

Bonus sustainable greeting cards!

Have you noticed at thrift stores that they actually have a lot of great sustainable holiday decor?

Yep, you can decorate for your zero-waste Christmas season by checking out second-hand shops and there are generally stacks of unused cards! 

Have you found any good eco-friendly brands that sell sustainable holiday cards? I would love to hear about them in the comments below and hopefully, it helps other readers as they are figuring out where to buy eco-friendly holiday gifts and cards! 

Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best sustainable holiday cards for your zero waste Christmas.

Other posts you may like: 

19 Last Minute DIY Mason Jar Christmas Gift Ideas

26 Fun Experience Gifts For Kids They Will Love

A Complete Guide To Christmas Cookie Decorating Party Ideas

13 Best At Home New Years Eve Ideas To Host a Memorable Party 

If you would like to save this eco-friendly cards post for later-pin it!