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Sustainability Commitment

American Greetings Sustainability - FSC Certified Eco-Friendly Greeting Cards

American Greetings is committed to environmental stewardship. Every greeting card we produce is 100% recyclable and printed on FSC certified paper from responsibly managed forests.

100%
Recyclable Cards
90%
Recycled Content
50%
Renewable Energy
FSC
Certified Paper
Sustainable Production

Our Environmental Philosophy

For over a century, American Greetings has celebrated life's moments. Now, we're ensuring those celebrations don't come at the expense of our planet's future.

We believe that meaningful connections and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. That's why every American Greetings card—from our everyday designs to our premium christmas cards boxed collections—is crafted with sustainability at its core.

Our comprehensive sustainability program addresses every stage of production: from responsibly sourced raw materials to carbon-neutral manufacturing facilities and fully recyclable end products.

This commitment isn't new. It's woven into our 119-year heritage and guides every decision we make for the future.

FSC Certified Forests

FSC Certified Paper: Forests That Last Forever

What is FSC Certification?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization that sets the world's most rigorous standards for responsible forest management. FSC certification guarantees that paper products come from forests that are managed to protect biodiversity, water resources, and the rights of indigenous communities.

American Greetings' FSC Commitment

Since 2018, 100% of American Greetings cards have been printed exclusively on FSC certified paper. This means:

  • Traceable Supply Chain: Every sheet of paper can be traced back to FSC certified forests in North America and Scandinavia
  • No Old-Growth Forests: We use only sustainably harvested timber from managed plantations
  • Reforestation Guarantee: For every tree used, our suppliers plant at least two new saplings
  • Third-Party Auditing: Annual independent audits verify compliance across our entire supply chain

The Impact

In 2024 alone, American Greetings' FSC commitment protected:

  • 12,000 acres of forest habitat
  • Homes for 450+ endangered species
  • Water sources for 2.3 million people
  • Carbon sequestration equivalent to removing 8,500 cars from roads

Source: American Greetings 2024 Sustainability Report, verified by Rainforest Alliance

100% Recyclable Cards

100% Recyclable Greeting Cards

Designing for Circularity

Every American Greetings card is designed to be fully recyclable in standard municipal recycling programs. Here's how we achieve this:

Recyclability Features:

  • Water-Based Inks: Our proprietary soy and vegetable-based inks are 100% biodegradable and easily separated during recycling
  • No Plastic Lamination: We use aqueous coatings instead of plastic films for glossy finishes
  • Minimal Adhesives: Only recyclable glues certified by the Paper Recovery Alliance
  • Removable Embellishments: Ribbons, gems, and other decorations are easily detached before recycling

90% Recycled Content

Our cardstock contains an average of 90% post-consumer recycled content. This means we're turning yesterday's newspapers, office paper, and yes—even old greeting cards—into today's celebrations.

How to Recycle Your American Greetings Cards:

  1. Remove any non-paper embellishments (ribbons, gems, etc.)
  2. Place card in your curbside paper recycling bin
  3. Cards with foil accents can be recycled—modern facilities separate metallic elements
  4. Even cards with ink and color prints are fully recyclable

Did you know? Recycled greeting cards can be turned into new cardstock in as little as 7 days, with 95% less water usage and 73% less energy consumption than virgin paper production.

Eco-Friendly Inks

Eco-Friendly Inks & Printing

Plant-Based Color Technology

Traditional petroleum-based printing inks release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution and climate change. American Greetings has completely eliminated petroleum inks from our production process.

Our Ink Technology:

  • Soy-Based Inks: Made from renewable soybean oil, reducing VOC emissions by 85%
  • Vegetable Inks: Linseed and canola oil-based formulations for specialty finishes
  • Water-Based Coatings: Replace solvent-based varnishes with aqueous alternatives
  • Zero Heavy Metals: No lead, cadmium, or mercury in any of our color formulations

Printing Process Innovations:

  • LED UV Curing: Replaces traditional heat-drying with energy-efficient LED technology, reducing energy use by 60%
  • Closed-Loop Ink System: Recycles and reuses excess ink, eliminating 98% of ink waste
  • Waterless Offset Printing: Eliminates toxic fountain solutions from the printing process

The Environmental Impact:

By switching to eco-friendly inks in 2020, American Greetings has achieved:

  • 2,400 tons of COâ‚‚ emissions prevented annually
  • 95% reduction in air pollutants from printing facilities
  • Zero hazardous waste classification for spent inks

Data source: American Greetings Environmental Impact Assessment 2024, third-party verified by SGS

Carbon Neutral Facilities

Carbon-Neutral Printing Facilities

50% Renewable Energy & Growing

American Greetings' Cleveland headquarters and primary manufacturing facility achieved carbon neutrality in 2023. We're on track to reach 100% renewable energy across all operations by 2030.

Our Energy Strategy:

  • On-Site Solar: 5-megawatt solar array installed at Cleveland facility in 2022, generating 30% of facility power
  • Wind Power Agreements: 20-year contract with Ohio wind farms provides additional 20% renewable electricity
  • Energy Efficiency: LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC, and smart building systems reduce energy demand by 40%
  • Carbon Offsets: Remaining emissions offset through verified reforestation projects in the Pacific Northwest

Waste Management Excellence:

  • Zero-Waste-to-Landfill: 99.2% waste diversion rate at main facility (2024)
  • Paper Scrap Recycling: 100% of production offcuts returned to paper mills
  • Composting Program: Biodegradable materials composted on-site

Water Conservation:

  • Closed-loop water recycling system reduces consumption by 65%
  • Rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses
  • Zero wastewater discharge to municipal systems

Certifications & Environmental Partnerships

FSC Certified

100% certified paper sources

ISO 14001

Environmental management system

Rainforest Alliance

Verified sustainable practices

Carbon Neutral

Verified carbon neutrality

Environmental Partnerships

American Greetings collaborates with leading environmental organizations to drive industry-wide change:

  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): Advisory board member helping set North American forestry standards
  • Paper Recovery Alliance: Funding research into advanced paper recycling technologies
  • World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Corporate partner supporting forest conservation programs
  • The Nature Conservancy: Supporting reforestation in U.S. national forests

Celebrate Sustainably with American Greetings

Every card you send makes a positive impact. Choose American Greetings for FSC certified, 100% recyclable greeting cards that connect people while protecting our planet.

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