Growing Paper is a proudly South African company based 65 km outside of Cape Town that produces 100% handmade, recycled, plantable and biodegradable paper products that grow into living herbs, vegetables or flowers once they are planted.
Founder of Growing Paper, Roxanne Schumann started the organisation in 2010, on her family farm based at the foot of the Paardeberg with the help of her school friend, Nileta Knoetzen.
The main aim was to create a sustainable product that could contribute to the upcycling culture, while also adding a dash of beauty into the world.
The idea of recycled products came when Roxanne was at a family wedding and watched how all the stationery were going to waste. With the help of Nileta, Roxanne bought second-hand paper-making equipment and got to work. Little did she know that Growing Paper would soon become a permanent working place for 30+ individuals.
Over a period of time, the business began creating greeting cards, gift tags and more that were embedded with seeds that we’re able to grow into flowers, herbs or vegetables once planted.
Charmain Nolte and Christel Wessels joined the team and are in charge of the creative development, while Franza Lower is in charge of administration. Locally employed men and women are the hardworking team behind creating products for various commercial and artistic applications including, wedding invitations, business cards, flyers, bottle neck-tags and bookmarks, confetti, lanyards, coasters, clothing tags and so much more.
Growing Paper also offers artists the opportunity to get their work printed on recycled seeded paper so that the receiver of a card can frame the front and plant the back to grow flowers, herbs or vegetables.
Growing Paper is all about being kind to the environment, the community and the strong, beautiful people that form a part of it.
Picture: Facebook / Growing Paper