"Nothing can be born from diamonds... but flowers can grow from paper!"
So sang De Andrè, emphasizing the potential of natural materials like sheets of paper to complete their life cycle by blossoming into a flower.
How? Let's find out together!
Seed paper is an original and eco-friendly idea that has won over many individuals and companies advocating for sustainable products. It's an excellent way to expand the circular economy and contribute to environmental causes.
Each sheet contains various seeds, the types of which may vary as specified on the packaging, often including flowers or aromatic plants. The production of this type of paper also involves the presence of nutrients that will reinforce the seed and later the sprout once planted in the soil. To make it, the waste from the paper production process and recycling are directly utilized.
The production of seed paper
To obtain it, through a completely artisanal process, used paper is soaked until it forms a pulp, to which seeds are added (such as poppy, sunflower, lavender, sage, but also tomatoes or chili peppers!). The result is a rough sheet with a natural color, with seeds already visible to the naked eye on the surface. Seed paper can be a beautiful gift, a smart way to promote your business, or to have unique business cards!
How to get the Flower!
The procedure for planting it may vary slightly depending on who produced it. Generally, you just need to soak the sheets overnight and then bury them in a pot or garden under a thin layer of soil, then keep the soil moist and the area exposed to sunlight as needed. Germination times obviously vary depending on the type of plant, weather conditions, season, and climate, but just be patient and the wait will be rewarded by the beautiful colors and scents of the plant that will sprout!
Using this type of paper is definitely a great way to recycle: by using scraps from the production chain, waste is reduced, the paper is biodegradable and plantable, waste is reduced, and nutrients and new plants are returned to the soil, helping to reduce air pollution. All great things for the environment and for us, of course! So, it's a great way to reduce our personal environmental impact, and the new seedlings can be a lovely gift idea!
