I just received my paper samples from Couture books, and am excited to start designing my new sample Earth Album. The samples look great. All the papers are at least 50% recycled, and there is a white felt that feels super luxurious to the touch. I really want to make this book as green as possible so I plan to go with the 100% recycled paper, but will give clients the other options too. I’m undecided upon 10×10 or 10×13 for size but it will have a custom photo cover, hand torn recycled pages, sewn into the binding, and somewhere between 50 to 100 pages. (I’m aiming for 100 but that might be overly ambitious.)
I also just ordered a goodie box from Wild Magnolia Design. At first I thought, “well I’ve already found a green album maker” but the two companies make such completely different books I think offering them both will work well. The Wild Magnolia albums are printed on eco-friendly cotton paper, have peace silk or hemp hard covers, and are mounted similar in style to a traditional flushmount.
Speaking of flushmount albums, I still plan to offer a leather bound photographic printed flushmount album too, as well as coffee table books. While these are not very green, I have given this lots of thought and done some research. I have found a company that gets all their materials locally, manufactures in the US, and is responsible with their environmental practices. An album is something you order once and lasts many lifetimes. Considering this longevity, I feel it is a sustainable choice as well.
What I need to find now is a coffee table book maker (for casual albums and guestbooks) that uses recycled paper, and natural materials for covers!
