I have a couple that may be inquiring for a green alternative for their wedding album. Is anyone else doing this?

By green, do you mean environmentally friendly or really green?

If you mean environmentally friendly, then I'm not sure, but I'd like to know the answer.

Yes I mean environmentally friendly. It has to difficult since most of the adhesives are not environmentally friendly.

If environmentally, do you mean sustainable and biodegradable? Most albums fit that description. Being paper and leather. The prints, however, are mostly plastic -- unless you print on cotton with an inkjet, which is a definite possibility.

If they're opposed to leather, there are metal, linen, cotton, and wood covers available from some album mfrs. Tell us more of what you mean by "green."


You could matt all the prints with 2-ply, with a 2-ply backing, using rice glue and paper hinges. It would probably be a do-it-yourself album, but it could look really cool.

But environmentally green isn't always what you'd think. You need to think about what it takes to produce the pieces. Like a Toyota Prius. It produces a lot more carbon (compared to a regular car) to build it than it would ever save in its lifetime. It just moves the emissions to someplace else.

Yeah I will have to inquire with them further on specifics.

I could totally make the album, cornstarch and hotwater make a very strong natual adhesive but for softer materials.

I was just informed by a second party that they may want an environmentally friendly option so just thought I would start the research by asking questions here. Was just curious if anyone else has had this type of request.

I'm wondering why they want a environmentally friendly wedding album. isn't a wedding album a keepsake for generations?
personally I'd want my album to last forever for my great great grandkids to see. maybe I'm not understanding the concept.

I'm hoping most of my brides won't be recycling their albums

I don\'t want to hijack the thread, but I would really like a source on your quote above. It sounds like FUD from Detroit.

EDIT:
After doing some searching I found out that the company that produced the study that claims the Prius and other hybrids actually produce more carbon from a dust-to -dust perspective is CNW Marketing Research, a company that provides information for the auto industry.

From what I've found it appears two studies by MIT and the Argonne National Laboratory have had much different findings.

Also, some people from a Prius discussion group referred me to some links that debunk the CNW report, basically saying that while more CO2 is emitted during Prius production, but the Prius makes up for it over it's driven lifetime.

Here are those links:
http://innovation.globalwatchonline.com/ep...bd001a0/?mode=2
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/k_forum/tenji/pdf/pgr_e.pdf

Disclaimer:
We own two Toyota Prius hybrids, a 2005 and 2006.

Thanks Damon for the clear up (disclaimer: not a prius owner but a prius fan)

About the Albums:
One big step would be to make sure that the paper products in the album (don't know if its available for photo print paper...) come from Forest Stewardship Council approved sources. That would mean that all the paper came from a sustainable source.

Hey my new branding is going to use green so which companies have options for green covers?

Maybe you should just hire an Indian storyteller to be at their wedding. Then he can live with them and recount the tale of their wedding whenever someone wants to hear it.

I mean, photos require cameras, which require plastic, which isn't environmentally safe.

Are there any photographers who _aren't_ going green with their branding lately?

seems like a weird request to me, I'm all for being environmentally friendly, but as kevin said, it's photography, and you want something that's going to last.

But, to answer your questions, you could have their album printed on all natural papers using an inkjet printer, and send them off to be bound by some green binder, if you can find one.

Yeah, seems like a crazy odd request, especially considering how un-green the rest of photography is (like others have mentioned).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go dump all my used-up batteries in the ocean...and give the dolphins these little plastic six-pack holder thingies...

The client didn't actually request this yet. A good friend of theirs asked me about it and if anything was mentioned in my meeting with them. There was no mention so they may or may not care but me wanting to be on top of it and ready to answer questions I figured hey I am going to look into this.

I don't think they are crazy green environmentally friendly freeks. Though the bride is a laywer for a non profit in DC that specializes in enviromnental issues.

So while this may not be an issue I have a lot of options to give her if she is concerned. Thanks guys.

I'm glad you threadjacked a bit... I'm kinda over people who keep quoting that industry-purchased report. Another happy Prius owner here. Thanks for the links to the data from the scientists.