Recycled envelopes and eco friendly envelope printing

A recycled envelope is one converted from recycled paper stock, and the useful version is made from 100 percent recycled fiber with a high share of post-consumer waste. Four decisions do most of the work when you order them: the size, whether it has a window, what kind of adhesive seals it, and whether the finished envelope can go in a household recycling bin. Once those are settled, the rest is design.

We are Eco Friendly Printer. Greg Barber started the company in 1990, and envelopes have been part of the work since the beginning, usually alongside letterhead for the same client. Here is what we tell people who ask.

What makes an envelope recycled

Read the fiber content the same way you would read it on any sheet. Recycled content can come from mill trimmings that never left the factory, from printed material that never reached a buyer, or from post-consumer waste, which is paper that people used and put out for collection. Post-consumer content is the figure that reflects real diversion from landfill, so an envelope described as 100 percent recycled with no post-consumer number beside it does not tell you how much of the fiber was actually diverted from landfill.

Two other things are worth confirming. FSC certification means the fiber is tracked through a chain of custody. Chlorine free processing means the pulp was brightened with oxygen or hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine compounds. Everything we convert and print is 100 percent recycled, FSC certified and chlorine free, printed with soy based inks.

Standard envelope sizes

• A2, 4.375 by 5.75 inches. This size is used for note cards, RSVP cards and thank you cards.
• A7, 5.25 by 7.25 inches. This is the usual outer envelope for 5 by 7 invitations and cards, which makes it the standard choice for wedding invitations, announcements and event invitations.
• Number 10, 4.125 by 9.5 inches. This is the standard business envelope, and a letter folded in thirds fits it directly. It is used for invoices, statements, letters and most day to day correspondence.
• 6 by 9 inches. This size suits booklets, small catalogs, documents you would rather not fold, and sales material with a card enclosed.
• 9 by 12 inches. This size holds full letter sized sheets and folders unfolded, along with presentation material and reports.

For every common size, from A1 to A10 plus commercial, catalog and square envelopes, see our envelope size chart. We print custom envelopes in all of these sizes on recycled and kraft paper.

Envelope stock is usually a 24 lb or 28 lb text weight. Heavier stock feels better in the hand and hides the contents more effectively, but it adds weight to every piece you mail. On a large run, check the finished weight and size against current postal brackets before you commit, because a stock upgrade that seems small can move an entire mailing into a higher rate.

Windows

A window saves you from printing addresses twice, which is why statement and invoice mailings use them. The trade off is what the window is made of. Most stock window envelopes use a thin plastic film, and that film is the one part of an otherwise recyclable paper envelope that recycling programs do not want. Some mills use a glassine or paper based window instead, which is far easier to process.

If the mailing is a run of invoices, a window is the practical choice, and asking for a paper based window is worth doing. If it is a marketing piece or an invitation, print the address directly and skip the window entirely. The envelope then goes in the paper bin with nothing to remove.

Adhesives

There are two common seals, and they are not equal on the sustainability side.

• Gummed, also called remoistenable. This is a dried, water activated adhesive on the flap. Nothing is thrown away when you seal it, and there is no liner. It stores well and it is the better choice for a recycled envelope.
• Peel and seal. This is faster to close by hand, which matters if one person is stuffing several hundred envelopes. The downside is the silicone coated release liner you peel off and throw away, which creates waste on every piece.

For a small run being sealed by hand, peel and seal saves real time and the liner waste is modest. For anything going through a mailing house or an inserting machine, gummed is standard anyway. Decide based on volume and who is doing the sealing.

Printing on recycled envelopes

You have the same range of options as any other printed piece, and the simplest ones tend to look best on uncoated recycled stock.

One color printing, usually a return address and a logo, is the most economical and the most common. Two colors add a little depth without much cost. Full color across the face is worth it when the envelope is doing the selling, as with a direct mail piece where the outside decides whether the inside gets opened. Blank envelopes are a reasonable choice too, if you want to hand address, stamp or label them yourself.

The following three design notes help avoid problems. Keep artwork clear of the gum line, since ink over adhesive interferes with the seal. Keep heavy solid coverage away from the seams, where the extra layers of paper can show as a faint ridge. Leave the address area clean, because automated postal sorting needs clear contrast and a plain background to read a barcode.

Uncoated recycled stock takes ink slightly differently from a bright coated sheet. Colors look a little warmer and softer, and most people prefer that on an envelope. If your brand color has to match exactly, order the stock first and see it printed.

Running envelopes through your own printer

Short runs of addresses printed in house are fine on most machines if you feed them properly. Use the manual or bypass tray rather than the paper cassette, load a small stack rather than filling the tray, and set the media type to envelope so the printer adjusts its speed and heat. Laser output on recycled envelope stock is crisp. Inkjet output needs a moment to dry before you stack the pieces, since uncoated recycled paper absorbs more ink. Print one to test before you run the batch, and keep the envelopes flat and sealed in their box until you use them, because curl is what causes misfeeds.

For larger mailings, it is usually easier to have the return address and logo printed with the rest of your small business printing.

Eco friendly envelopes for business mail

For business correspondence, a good starting point is a plain Number 10 envelope made from 100 percent recycled stock with a high post-consumer content. If your invoices or statements need a window, ask for a glassine or paper based window rather than plastic film. A windowless envelope with the address printed directly on the face avoids the issue altogether. Either choice makes the finished envelope easier to recycle.

Gummed flaps suit mailings that go through an inserting machine or a mailing house, and they leave no liner to throw away. Peel and seal flaps are quicker when staff seal envelopes by hand, although each one leaves a liner behind. Printing your return address and logo at the same time as your letterhead and envelopes keeps your stationery consistent and saves hand stamping or labeling later.

What we print

We buy from a short list of mills: Sustana EnviroPrint, Monadnock Astrolite PC 100, Neenah Environment and Mohawk Loop. That covers smooth white envelopes for business correspondence, natural and textured shades for invitations, and heavier stocks where the piece needs to feel substantial.

Ask about paper samples when you request a quote, which is a sensible first step on a first order. You can read about each stock on our paper samples page. Typical turnaround is one to two weeks from artwork approval. Short runs are available, and minimums are listed on each product page across our product range. We are based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and we quote and ship nationwide.

Common questions about recycled envelopes

Are recycled envelopes as strong as regular ones?

Yes, at the same weight. Strength comes from the stock weight and the converting, not from whether the fiber is new. A 24 lb recycled envelope handles the mail stream the same way a 24 lb virgin one does.

Can window envelopes be recycled?

A plain paper envelope, gummed and unlined, goes in the curbside bin as it is. Many recycling programs also accept envelopes with plastic film windows, because the film is screened out during pulping, but local rules vary, so check with your program. Glassine and paper based windows avoid the question entirely. Plastic lined padded mailers are what cause real problems, so those are worth designing out when you can.

Do recycled envelopes cost more?

Recycled envelope stock can cost slightly more than standard stock, depending on the paper, the size and the quantity. On most orders the difference is small compared with the cost of printing and postage. Send us your size and quantity and we will quote the options.

Which envelope size fits a 5 by 7 card?

An A7 envelope, which measures 5.25 by 7.25 inches, is the standard size for a 5 by 7 card or invitation. It leaves enough room for the card to slide in easily. If you are adding enclosures such as an RSVP card or a thick insert, check the finished thickness before you order.

Can we print our branding on them?

Yes. We can print a return address, a logo, a message on the flap or full color across the face. Send us your artwork or the logo files and we will set it up.

Tell us the size, the quantity and what is going inside, and we will quote it. Start your order here.