The A5 journals, A6 mini notebooks, pens, and pencils available through Eco Cozy Stationery are produced using recycled materials, including ocean waste, reclaimed coffee & crop waste, recycled paper, and plastic bottle waste. The company, VENT for Change, has established itself as a sustainable stationery company that provides ethical purchasing alternatives for conscientious consumers, in addition to donating 5% of its net sales to children’s education projects worldwide.

The pencil cases available through Eco Cozy Stationery are produced with Certified Fair Trade Organic cotton. Conventional cotton is regarded as one of the most water-intensive and polluting crops in the world. Producing cotton organically eliminates the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and is therefore considered to be a more environmentally-conscious alternative. The company, Terra Thread, is a Certified B-Corporation (what does this mean?) and is a member of the Global Organic Textile Standard, GOTS (what is this?).

The highlighters available through Eco Cozy Stationery are manufactured using recycled materials. 100% of the barrels and caps of these highlighters are made from recycled polypropylene (PP) plastic, plastic that has been repurposed from post-consumer and post-industrial waste. The company, Altitude, also produce spiral notebooks and composition notepads made with bamboo paper, vegan leather, and soy-based ink.

The seed packets available through Eco Cozy Stationery are all USDA-Certified Organic (what does this mean?). Organic seeds and crops are produced without the use of synthetic (fossil fuel-derived) fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, and are considered to be proponents of soil fertility, biodiversity, and human health. These seed packets include a variety of common herbs and flowers, and I encourage you to plant them. I am a strong proponent of growing one’s own food, and herb gardens are a wonderful, beginner-friendly way to start!

The tote bags available through Eco Cozy Stationery are made of natural jute fibers. Jute is a golden, silky fiber that is 100% biodegradable. Compared to the 400-1000 years required for plastic to break down naturally, jute degrades in just 6-8 months when buried underground. The company, Imagine Color, is a family-owned company committed to developing eco-friendly products. Their manufacturing partner in India is the first jute bag manufacturer to become a Carbon Zero (what does this mean?) company.

The tea available through Eco Cozy Stationery is USDA-Certified Organic (what does this mean?) and non-GMO. Tea is one of my absolute favorite beverages (I start every day with a mug of freshly-brewed black tea), and in addition to tasting delicious, tea can have a number of health benefits, including reducing one’s risk of chronic illness and heart disease. The tea companies that I source from, The Secret Garden and The Tea Spot, are both committed to environmental and social causes. The Tea Spot is a Certified B-Corporation (what does this mean?) and donates 10% of profits to cancer research projects globally.

The lip balm available through Eco Cozy Stationery is made from all-natural beeswax and simple, organic ingredients, and then wrapped in wood instead of the industry-conventional processed paper. The company, Portland Bee Balm, is based out of Portland, Oregon, and strives to create meaningful, useful products that are natural, add value to people’s lives, and help bring awareness of the human role in the natural environment.

The paper products available through Eco Cozy Stationery are sourced from a variety of brands, stores, and companies. Although paper, as a renewable resource, is generally considered to be a more sustainable material than synthetic materials (i.e. plastics), there is still an environmental cost associated with its production. Where possible, I source Eco Cozy’s paper products from companies that are FSC-Certified (what does this mean?) or from companies that partner with environmental organizations like Ecologi. I also hand-select sheets of secondhand cardstock and textured paper from local art consignment stores, which can be fantastic resources for artists.

The wooden/rubber stamps available through Eco Cozy Stationery are sourced locally from secondhand art consignment stores. I hand-select each stamp and ensure that each one, despite being secondhand, has never been used and maintains the highest quality. Purchasing secondhand is an excellent way to extend the life and use of an item (and keep the item out of the landfill), and because of the ever-changing nature of secondhand stores, you never know what treasures you might find. Some of the wooden stamps that I have sourced in this manner are retired/harder to come by, and eager for their next home.

The washi tape available through Eco Cozy Stationery are sourced from a variety of brands, small artists, and companies. Tape is generally not considered to be a very ‘sustainable’ product, given its single-use nature and inability to be recycled/composted. Washi tape, although still not perfectly ‘sustainable,’ is a slightly more eco-friendly alternative to conventional Scotch (plastic) tape, as it is typically crafted from natural plant and paper fibers. Over time, the natural fibers in washi tape will biodegrade/decompose, but washi tape is nevertheless still a single-use item that we cannot yet recycle.