I hope you enjoy this short article I wrote for the “The Green Room” which can be found in the winter issue of Stationery Trends Magazine. Everyone wants to reduce their carbon footprint and I was excited to be able to write about this complicated and many times misunderstood topic. Read entire article below.

The Green Room
What is your Carbon Footprint? -  Why does it Matter?
Learning abut your environmental impact allows you to go more green

By Sue Rostvold

There have been numerous books and articles written about carbon footprints, but what exactly does it mean? One straightforward approach can be found at www.carbonfootprint.com. There you can calculate and reduce your personal and business carbon footprint.

After calculating your carbon footprint, you’ll be more aware of the consequences of your choices. When customers ask you about green products or your environmental commitment, you’ll say you are educating yourself and have even calculated your footprint! Understanding how your current decisions and practices affect the world will strengthen your business, improve public relations and ultimately boost the economy.

A carbon footprint is a measure of the exclusive global amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted by a human activity or accumulated over the full life cycle of a product or service. More simply put, the carbon footprint is a metaphorical description for the impact our actions and choices have on the environment. It measures the resources you consume, both directly (by the kind of car you drive and by how hot or cold you keep your house or business) and indirectly (by how much energy it takes to produce the products that you purchase).

When carbon-based energy (e.g. oil, coal, natural gas) is used, gasses are emitted, which adversely affect the planet’s atmospheric balance and can greatly affect climate. So we measure our impact, or the resources we use, by measuring the amount of greenhouse gases produced in units of carbon dioxide, thus calculating our carbon footprint.

So, a carbon footprint is calculated in two parts:

1) The Primary Footprint is a measure of our directly consumed non-renewable energy, creating CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. This includes home and workplace energy consumption, as well as transportation (e.g., car and plane).

2) The Secondary Footprint is a measure of the indirectly consumed CO2 emissions from the whole life cycle of products we purchase, rent and use — the carbon emissions created with the manufacture and eventual breakdown of these items. To put it simply, the more we buy, the more emissions we’re responsible for creating.

According the EPA, the process of recycling paper uses 60 percent less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin timber, while recycling aluminum uses 96 percent less energy than mining aluminum ore. So simply put, if you make a some lifestyle changes — reduce, reuse, recycle; support local businesses; purchase sustainable green and fair trade products; convert to compact fluorescents or LED lights; drive minimally and slower; and make energy saving decisions every day, like turning down the heat or air conditioning or using cloth tote bags — your business’ carbon footprint is probably already lower than average. Congratulations!

We each have the power to make really important changes in this world with our simple day-to-day actions. As we become smarter and more creative with our energy consumption, our planet will be healthier and our nation will be less dependent on foreign sources of carbon-based energy.

Sue Rostvold drives a compact car in Austin, Texas. She and her husband compost, recycle and garden to lower their carbon footprint. In addition to a 20-year career in the pre-press and printing industry, Sue is the passionate founder of Verysupercool “green” greeting cards. Her dog-themed, inspirational cards are printed on 100 percent PCW recycled paper. You can e-mail this article and find even more links about carbon footprints at www.verysupercool.com.

Here is my second article for “The Green Room”, which can be seen in the fall issue of Stationery Trends Magazine. I enjoy writing about the environment, an important issue. Even though Stationery Trends is a trade and not an environmental magazine, they are incorporating sustainable content into each issue, and that’s Verysupercool in my book!

I haven’t seen the movie “Curious George”, but while researching for this article I fell in love with Jack Johnson’s music! I can see why he is such a favorite with young kids, with his great song,”The 3 R’s” .

Read entire article below:

The Green Room
The Three R’s – Recycled products are a smart choice,
Just ask Plato – or Curious George

By Sue Rostvold

Although most of us didn’t grow up recycling, it’s really nothing new. History indicates that recycling dates back to at least 400 B.C., and no less a personage than Plato was doing it. These days our children are often leading the way, singing along with Curious George (aka Jack Johnson, who did the score for the 2006 film): “Gotta reduce, reuse, recycle!”

Wholesalers and retailers across the U.S. are responding to consumer demand for more sustainable goods. Offering recycled products is an easy, eco-friendly way to assure that customers leave your venue feeling positive about their purchases and your store.

Most businesspeople are convinced that responsible sourcing is the way to go, but what does that mean to a stationery/gift retailer that’s new to the movement? If you sing along with Curious George, you’ll respond to both your customers’ desires and the earth’s needs by remembering the three R’s:

• REDUCE. Reducing consumption is the first step. One easy way to do this is to stock products with minimal packaging. This is much easier to do now, since Wal-Mart forced the packaging industry to simplify their product wrappings. When you buy pre-packaged products, look for ones that are simply packaged, and tell your buyers and distributors to look out for new finds. Buying and selling in bulk is another way to minimize packaging. You can even creatively re-package bulk items with scrap paper, ribbon and twine.
• REUSE. Reused, re-purposed and re-adapted are some of the words today’s hip artisans use to describe what was known in the 1990s as “found object art.” Materials such as beach glass, steel, wire, newspaper, aluminum and barn wood are recycled into rustic, eclectic or modern stylized creations. Often these items are made in developing areas of the world and carry the additional benefit of being fairly traded.
• RECYCLE. As the saying goes, “If you’re not buying recycled, you’re not really recycling.” When you buy something made with recycled materials, you ensure that discarded materials are reused instead of ending up in a landfill. Even though almost all paper is recyclable, statistics reveal that approximately 35 percent our landfills are comprised of paper and paperboard! That’s because Americans threw away about 85 million tons of paper products in 2006, nearly a three-fold increase from 1960.* So it’s more important than ever to buy recycled paper products, and remind customers why this matters.

Stocking just one recycled item is better than none. Your customers want items derived from responsible, creative practices. When retailers support companies that are committed to the environment, they also strengthen their own business ethics and reputation. In the end, whether you are a retailer or end consumer, purchasing quality items from companies that are environmentally conscious just feels like the right thing to do. This makes our collective buying power is more important and meaningful than ever before in history.

*2006 statistics from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Sue Rostvold lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband Allan, and her swimming dachshund Martin. Her company, Verysupercool, features dog-themed, inspirational greeting cards printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper — making them a completely recycled product! For more information, or to watch a music video of the Jack Johnson recycling song mentioned in this article, visit www.verysupercool.com.

The Pet Elite, Pet Fashion Week New York issue, featured Verysupercool cards in their Sustainable Style section!

September 1, 2008 – Verysupercool cards were prominently featured in The Pet Elite magazine’s Sustainable Style: Ideas for an eco-friendly renovation Fall 2008 issue.  Of course they chose to feature Bella’s card, everyone’s favorite French Bulldog puppy. (see spread below)

This Fall issue also doubled as the directory for New York’s Pet Fashion Week. This year the team at Pet Fashion Week helped luxury and boutique retailers learn how to make their retail operations more environmentally friendly! The ECOuture Charity Fundraiser, which combines environmental responsibility with fashion and fundraising to encourage eco-friendly business decisions and recognize companies for their charitable efforts. We think that’s Verysupercool!

I’m so excited to announce that my very first column came out in the summer issue of Stationery Trends Magazine. I was honored when the editor, Sarah Schwartz, approached me to write an ongoing green column: The Green Room. (Of course I managed to work my dog Martin into my head shot photo. Sarah, an animal lover herself, was nice enough to oblige.) Stationery Trends is an attractive new trade magazine that prides itself as a great resource for greeting cards, gifts, and all things stationery!

I wanted my first article to talk about how easy it is to start thinking green. It’s too overwhelming to think about transforming your entire retail space into a green store over night, but you can each take small steps in the right direction starting today!

Read entire article below

The Green Room
Be an Eco-Conscious Store Owner – Starting Now!

By Sue Rostvold

In a post-“Inconvenient Truth” world, everyone wants to be more eco-conscious. Retailers across the country are searching high and low for more sustainable products to green up their inventory in order to provide their customers with earth-friendly choices. Most positive changes don’t happen overnight; more often they happen incrementally over time. Although your store may not be totally green by tomorrow, you can be eco-conscious starting today!

Being a eco-conscious buyer and business owner is easy. It has nothing to do with whether or not your wear a tie-dye shirt, drink kombucha tea or meditate. It will cost you nothing but a little time and some extra thought. It’s just a matter of knowing your vendors’ products and policies, as well as taking note of your own store practices.

How many customers walk in with a can of soda or plastic bottle of water? Do you have a recycling bin for cans and bottles in your store? That is a simple thing you can do that let’s your customers know you care about the environment.

Start with a simple checklist

So, what do you need to ask your vendors? They are probably some of the same questions your customers are already asking you. How often do you hear, “My friend is really into the environment, do you have gifts that were made from recycled materials?” or “I’m looking for something local” from your customers? People feel good supporting their local economy, and vacationers love to pick up local gifts for their friends and family, and it’s an added bonus if the item is eco-friendly too!

It’s up to each store owner to develop their own set of criteria for how they screen and make their final purchasing decisions. Decide what’s important to you, then educate yourself and your customers will benefit in the process. People love to be the first to tell their friends about a new green find or local item no one else knows about.

Below is a checklist that can be used as a starting point to rate your vendors. It is really just an expanded version of the basics we all know, the three R’s: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

1). Vendor is local, made in the U.S. or fair trade.
2). Vendor products are made with non-toxic or less toxic materials.
3). Vendor products are made from recycled materials.
4). Vendor products are recyclable or reusable.
5). Vendor products are produced using renewable energy or carbon offset.
6). Vendor products are minimally packaged and/or packaging is recyclable or compostable.
7). Vendor has a waste reduction/recycling policy.
8). Vendor supports non-profit efforts by donating time, money or products to charitable organizations.
9). Vendor pays a living wage, runs a union shop, provides health care, child care benefits, etc.
10). Vendor is certified by Co-op America, Fair Trade Federation, or another viable monitoring group.

The good news is there are already hundreds of vendors available that can answer yes to most of the questions listed above. You’ll find many of these companies are members of Coop America or the Fair Trade Federation.

Denise Hamler, Director of Co-op America’s Green Business Network says, “Today we are seeing amazing growth – three companies a day are joining and by the end of the year nearly 5,000 green businesses will be touting the Co-op America Seal of Approval, an important mark in this growing sea of green. By using this seal customers know that these businesses have passed the Co-op America screening and approval process and are a true green company, truly authentic!

Even more good news is that studies have shown that green product consumption is on the rise. Last year at the Sustainable Green Brands conference in New Orleans, findings from one survey reported that consumers expect to double their spending on green products and services in 2008, totaling an estimated $500 billion annually or $43 billion per month,

The research also found that 90% of Americans agree that there are important green issues and problems, and 82% believe it is important for companies to implement environmentally friendly practices.

The survey was conducted by Landor Associates; Penn, Schoen & Berland (PSB) Associates; and Cohn & Wolfe.

Green, Greener, Greenest

It’s important to remember that there are degrees of green and sustainability. Just because a product is made outside the U.S. doesn’t make it bad, but it’s important to be aware of how it was made and by whom.

Do you really know what was involved in the production? What were the working conditions for the employees? Were they paid a fair wage? What is happening in the environment in the surrounding area as a result of making this product?

The green movement is raising the eco-consciousness of the whole world and not a moment too soon. People are finally realizing that the true cost of goods purchased and sold is much more than the dollars and cents they pay at the cash register.

Sue Rostvold lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband Allan, and her swimming dachshund Martin, along with any number of foster dachshunds from Central Texas Dachshund Rescue. In addition to a 20-year career in the pre-press and printing industry, Sue is the passionate founder of Verysupercool, which incidentally was the only company exhibiting at the 2006 National Stationery Show featuring greeting cards printed on 100 percent post-consumer waste paper!

Michelle Anton, blogger for WomenEntrepreneur.com, has awesome taste in greeting cards!

Entrepreneurs Flourish In Austin, Texas

written by Michelle Anton

When I told my daughter that Austin must be doing something right, she said, “Austin Powers?” Once I stopped laughing I was able to share stories about a few new business owners I met in Austin, Texas, and how they possessed a refreshing burst of enthusiasm that I wanted to bring back to Los Angeles.

The first entrepreneur I met when I arrived was Penny of PennysPastries.com. She sells the tastiest chocolate chip cookie mix on the planet from her website. With flavors such as Chocolate Chip Indulgence, Peanut Butter Obsession, Black Magic and Chocolate-Chocolate Cherry, you’ll undoubtedly find something to delight your palette

And I would be remiss if I didn’t send a shout out to one of the entrepreneurs I met when I was leaving. Sue Rostvold of VerySuperCool.com gave me a box of greeting cards. (Yes! They really are cool.) Her tagline for VerySuperCool.com is “Green greeting cards with soul, because every dog has a story.” My friends fell in love with these adorable cards the moment they laid eyes on them. The heart-warming picture as well as the sayings inside each card makes them memorable.

Here are some of the vendors Jeannette Peten, CEO of BiGAustin, had on hand to display their unique products at the BiGAustin Marketplace last month. Read entire article here.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR, MICHELLE ANTON:

Verysupercool cards are prominently featured in the premiere issue of Stationery Trends Magazine, a hip, new trade publication that focuses on greeting cards, gifts, and all things stationery!

Stationery Trends Magazine will be making it’s big debut at the National Stationery Show next week and we’re so excited to be a part of it! Shades of Green, written by editor Sarah Schwartz, focuses on a topic that retailers across the country are yearning to learn more about; green stationery and gifts.

Read entire article below

Shades of Green
Eco-consciousness makes a big splash in stationery.
What role will it play in your store?

By Sarah Schwartz/Editor

These days, it’s impossible to be unaware of what’s become known as the green movement. From cleaning products to cars, consumers are reexamining both what they use and leave behind. It’s easy to wonder, is this another feel-good, election-year trend — or an enduring lifestyle?

“There is no question in my mind that ‘green’ is more than a new buzz word or passing trend,” said Sue Rostvold, founder and owner of Verysupercool. “While it’s on the tipping point of the mainstream right now, I feel people are slowly becoming aware of the wider implications of their actions. As long as we’re still dependent on non-renewable energy sources, there’s no reason a green lifestyle should not be enduring.”

Indeed, the stationery industry embraced the elements of the green movement “long before it was on the tip of everyone’s tongue,” opined Patti Stracher, the National Stationery Show’s (NSS) Show Manager. Most players assumed “it was a given when green became a part of the consciousness, everyone in the industry would be compliant.”

However, manufacturers and retailers didn’t promote their green lines as much as they could or should. “I think the industry is waking up,” she concluded. “Even better, these days green products are refined, indistinguishable from anything else.”

As such, George Little Management has expanded its Best New Product Awards competition at 2008’s NSS, adding an eco-friendly Think Green counterpart to each category. The awards will recognize companies that exemplifying ingenuity with earth-friendly products.

However, the green movement is not all about products — it begins with the business model, pointed out Todd LeVeck, business and environmental director, Eco-Expressions. “We seek to enhance communication between people while creating positive change in the way business is done with respect to the environment. Creating a sustainable business model and [products] that are ecologically intelligent was paramount in our decision to bring them to market.”

But small, socially conscious stationery companies aren’t the only ones getting involved. In February MeadWestvaco Corporation was named to CRO (Corporate Responsibility Officer) Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2008. MeadWestvaco was recognized for its practices that exemplify a higher level of corporate integrity, accountability and stewardship.

And other lines have literally been green for centuries. Crane & Co. has used cotton paper, making the entire line tree-free, for over 2000 years. Once recycled from rags, now from textile clippings, their paper proves that everything old is new again.

Green v. green-washed
So there’s no shortage of great green paper lines — and vendors have begun highlighting these aspects on product, Web sites and signage with finesse. However, there remains some terminology confusion among many.

This occurs for a few reasons. “Often a company puts the word ‘recycled’ on their product without including percentages because it’s not required by law,” explained Rostvold. These companies are sometimes dubbed “green-washed.

Complicating the situation, LeVeck added, “The EPA uses standards in green labeling that fluctuate with the Washington political winds.” So don’t get hung up on terminology— just remember the common thread is attention to the health and well-being of the end consumer and the resources used in production.

When it comes to the recycled content of the paper itself, 100 percent post-consumer waste (PCW) paper is top-shelf. “We received a custom order using 100 percent recycled paper, and researched it further,” noted Mark Gavin, owner and founder of Ecojot, “We decided products that were 100 percent recycled and made in Canada would be attractive to people. With all the miscommunication today, we wanted to emphasize that our products have 100 percent PCW. With clients from Barnes & Noble to Whole Foods, the response has obviously been quite positive!”

For a given paper to be called recycled, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer content for uncoated papers, and a minimum of 10 percent post-consumer content for coated papers. Other paper types, such as newsprint and corrugated packaging, also require post-consumer content. VerdePaperie, an online venue that literally means green paper store, has a minimum PCW content of 30 percent.

Also look out for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifications. Recently, some U.S. commercial forests have undergone a sustainable harvest certification process overseen by the FSC, a non-profit organization set up to encourage the use of sustainable forestrly practices. Their “Chain of Custody” is followed from the forest to the final product. The FSC certification also pertains to papers with a certain percentage of recycled and post-consumer waste content.

Soy or vegetable-based inks are less harmful to the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts. There are several types of vegetable-based printing inks, including linseed, tung, castor, canola, and safflower. Soy is popular because it is a very stable material with excellent “wetting” properties, enhancing its ability to carry solid pigments.

Amy Holland, co-owner of Eco-Wise, Austin, Texas, looks for lines that succeed on multiple levels. “Historically, finding 100 percent PCW greeting cards has been far from easy. To my surprise, most reps do not seem to know what PCW refers to or about recycled verses recyclable. Verysupercool cards was the first to be promoted as using 100 percent PCW paper while printing a color photograph using soy-based inks! The message from Verysupercool promotes mutual respect for animals, people and the planet in a creative and unique way.”

Some of the most interesting green stationery is not paper at all. Night Owl Paper Goods’ line of sustainably harvested wooden journals, desktop notepads, postcards and A2 cards has been selling around the globe — as far away as Australia. “Everyone has been really receptive to our illustration style paired with the wood,” said Partner Jennifer Tatham.

Packaging, or rather a lack of it, is also paramount. “We like suppliers who reduce their packaging where possible,” opined Scott Walker, co-owner/manager of Greenward, Boston. “This means we prefer no plastic bags on greeting cards. We would like to see more cards packaged just with a paper band, biodegradable cellophane sleeves or other environmentally responsible packaging.“

Loop, of Philadelphia, Penn., packages its product with a slender paper band featuring its tagline, “Happy People, Healthy Planet.” “We design our packaging to be as minimal as possible,” pointed Elissa Brown Barbieri, owner and designer. “We don’t believe one must sacrifice aesthetics for ethics.”

The Eco-luxe Lifestyle
This doesn’t mean that you have to only carry green lines and overhaul your business practices. Rather, consider an eco-luxe line or two as a necessary element in your merchandise repertoire — and realize that it may cost a bit more.

“A few wholesale clients don’t agree that consumers are willing to pay more for an eco product, but the sales of Loop products prove that consumers are eco-savvy and are indeed willing to pay a little extra,” Barbieri commented. “I am constantly re-iterating what makes Loop eco-luxe, versus a card that’s been green-washed by tacking a recycled logo on the back; being eco is more than being recycled or recyclable.”

In a typical boutique not earmarked as green, finding a visually pleasing green line can really please customers, explained Sherry Brown, card buyer, Breed & Co., Austin, Texas, who carries Verysupercool. “Customers love knowing they’re helping the earth and getting a cool card.”

Whatever line you select, talk it up. “Art N Soul, in Encinitas, Calif., has taken an educational approach to selling our products,” said LeVeck. “Each customer is told about the importance of our ecologically intelligent design and social give-back programs.”

Often the best way to educate customers is in narrative form. Such is definitely the case with Copper Willow Paper Studio, started by Jill Velez and Leora Mauck. “Our first movements in the eco-friendly direction were inspired by our families. Our letterpress was in Leora’s home, when her son was 18 months old,” noted Jill, who was also pregnant and operated the press well into her ninth month. “So our first priorities were using soy ink, oiling the machine with food-grade oil and cleaning up with a bio-solvent. Our first line was printed entirely on tree-free papers and premiered at NSS last May.”

Their range includes both a stationery and bridal stationery album. Now they’ve left Leora’s home, and their studio and production space are green too. With bamboo flooring, recycled wallpaper, no-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint and refinished antique furniture, their application to be a fully green-seal certified studio is currently up for review.

Walker also finds that small signs are well received. Dan Korman, who owns Park + Vine in Cincinnati, Ohio, agreed. “Little signs next to something makes an impression, we notice that people tend to spend more time in that spot.”

Finally, one under-recognized aspect of earth friendliness involves being friendly to each other, emphasized Shannon Martin, Girl Designer in partnership with Madison Park Greetings. “This has to do with community, who we are in the world, how we treat each other on a daily basis. Yes, recycling is important. But what of our own natural resources? Our humor, our compassion, our curiosity? What could be more earth-friendly than good working relationships, or a business where our success serves our local and business community?”

Thank you Green Printer for ranking Verysupercool #1! We really appreciate being appreciated!

Seven Ways Business is Green-ing Our World: One paper product at a time

The big names cannot help but pump out more sustainable paper products on an almost weekly basis. From biology college textbooks gone green to carbon friendly greeting cards, we’ve rounded up the top seven green papier goods that caught our eye.

1. Verysupercool (yes, that is their real and uber-funky name) teams with CarbonFund.org to create the Greenest Little Greeting Card in Texas. So, even while the mythical paperless office lures us with its green goodness, we still use and love our paper – printed on both sides, thankyouverymuch.

Read the entire article and see the other 6 products listed!

Posted by Thursday Bram for the MatterNETWORK.com:

Verysupercool: Greenest Little Greeting Card In Texas

Verysupercool, a greeting card company out of Austin Texas, is Carbonfund.org’s poster child. They are one of only two greeting card companies that were featured in the May/June issue of Greetings etc. magazine that use only 100% post-consumer waste paper. And the carbon emissions necessary for their business — shipping cards across the country to the more than 100 stores carrying Verysupercool’s products, for instance — are offset with the help of Carbonfund.org.

Verysupercool is a member of the CarbonFree Small Business program run by Carbonfund.org. Meant for companies with 10 or fewer employees, the program offers an option for carbon offsets that fits into a small business’ budget. The program has effectively zeroed out Verysupercool’s carbon footprint.

Sue Rostvold, one of Verysupercool’s co-founders, advocates small business carbon offsets:

“Our affiliation with Carbonfund.org seemed like a natural extension of our mission. We are excited by the work that Carbonfund.org is doing and are proud to be a part of it. We feel it’s important to raise awareness and show other businesses and individuals how easy it is to make our planet healthier for everyone!”

Verysupercool’s green efforts were honored in last month’s Greeting etc. — the trade magazine covering the stationery business.

See original post on www.matternework.com

(Released from Carbonfund.org via The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire)

Greetings etc. Magazine’s Eco-Edition Showcases Verysupercool’s Greeting Cards Made Greener with Carbonfund.org

(CSRwire) AUSTIN, TX – May 7, 2008 – In partnership with Carbonfund.org, Verysupercool announced today the success of its green greeting cards, which were featured in the March/April edition of Greeting etc., a prominent stationery trade magazine. In Greeting etc’s comprehensive Eco-Friendly issue to date, Verysupercool was one of only two featured greeting card companies that use exclusively 100% post-consumer waste paper. In addition to being made from recycled materials, Verysupercool’s greeting cards are now even greener through the offset of carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org.

By joining Carbonfund.org’s Small CarbonFree(TM) Business program, Verysupercool is offsetting the CO2 emitted from the energy it takes to run the business and ship greeting cards across the nation.

Verysupercool’s support of Carbonfund.org’s renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects demonstrates another way in which the company minimizes its climate impact.

“We are glad to see Greetings etc. begin to take notice of green and sustainable companies that are making a difference. As much as we love being different, we don’t want to be a minority,”{ said Sue Rostvold, Founder of Verysupercool. “In fact, my hope is that in the future, the majority of greeting cards will not only be printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, but also be more carbon-conscious.”

“Our affiliation with Carbonfund.org seemed like a natural extension of our mission. We are excited by the work that Carbonfund.org is doing and are proud to be a part of it,” said Rostvold. “We feel it’s important to raise awareness and show other businesses and individuals how easy it is to make our planet healthier for everyone!”

“Verysupercool uses only recycled materials and on top of that, they’re zeroing-out their carbon footprint. Their experience with Greetings etc. shows that the media recognize these kinds of efforts,” said Eric Carlson, Executive Director of Carbonfund.org. “We’re pleased to help make Verysupercool greeting cards even more sustainable.”

Verysupercool greeting cards are available in more than 100 stores nationwide and over 25 stores in the Austin area. Additionally, it is the greenest card choice currently available in the Landmark Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas.

About Verysupercool

Based in Austin, Texas, Verysupercool is a greeting card company that loves animals and cares about the environment. From its inception in 2005, Verysupercool has printed its unique line of dog themed cards on 100% post-consumer waste paper. Founded by Sue Rostvold and Allan Little, the company is focused on capturing the soulful gaze and personality of each dog and sharing their story.

“Green greeting cards with soul, because every dog has a story.”

About Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org is one of the country’s leading carbon reduction and offset organizations, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. Carbon offsets enable individuals and businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for in their everyday lives by supporting high-quality verified renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. Carbonfund.org works with over 600 corporate and non-profit partners including Discovery, Allstate, Volkswagen, Dell, Orbitz, Environmental Defense, and Lancôme.

For more information please contact:

Russell Simon, Communications Manager
Carbonfund.org
240-293-2700
www.carbonfund.org

Sue Rostvold, Founder
Verysupercool
512-426-7144
www.verysupercool.com
For more CSR news and information from this organization:

Corporate Social Responsibility Profile for Carbonfund.org

Eco – Friendly Merchandise Issue Features Verysupercool

March 1, 2008 – Greetings etc. features Verysupercool cards in their Eco-Friendly Merchandise issue, their greenest publication to date. Kathy Krassner, Editor-in-Chief, talks about the Green Scene and how “being green can also help your business stay in the black!”

The Card Market segment of the magazine showcased “Green” cards to facilitate retailers who have environmentally conscious consumers. Greeting cards are an inexpensive way for retailers, especially those who are new to the green market, to start carrying green products in their store.

A quote from Shakespeare is printed inside this “Heidi” card ($3.50) from Verysupercool Greeting Cards which uses 100% post consumer waste paper. An eco audit on the companies website shows all the natural resources that were saved as a result.

Austin Tidbits says, “Forego the typical, go for the Verysupercool!”

October 18, 2007 – Forego typical greeting cards and give a pup some praise. Austin-based company, VerySuperCool, specializes in doggie-themed cards printed on 100% post-consumer waste paper.

See Full Story…

Modern Dog LOVES Verysupercool green greeting cards!

Green Stuff We Love! Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter.

In their first GO – GREEN issue, Modern Dog applauds companies with conscious. Below, Verysupercool listed as number 3, featuring Buster, the rescued golden retriever. Inside the sympathy card, “Dogs’ lives are too short, their only fault really.”

3. Made from 100 percent recycled, acid free paper and soy inks, Verysupercool cards are certainly environmentally sensitive. Plus, they’re beautiful. Each card is essentially a mini-story, featuring a unique dog portraits on the front, a touching quote on the inside, and the cover dog’s bio, passions, and peeves on the back. ($.3.50, verysupercool.com) – Brielle

The Pet Elite Product Showcase features Verysupercool cards!

September 1, 2007 – Verysupercool card were prominently featured in The Pet Elite magazine’s first ever Eco-Friendly products spread. The Fall Trends edition also included the official tradeshow directory for New York’s Pet Fashion Week!

Verysupercool cards were featured as a green and unique alternative to traditional holiday cards in the Holiday 2006 issue of The Bark magazine.

Revive the lost art of handwritten communication,
write to loved ones with greetings and felicitations!

“Verysupercool not only produces appealing cards, they manufacture them in a verysupercool, environmentally friendly way.
Available in fine pet boutiques and card stores.”

Plenty Magazine thinks Verysupercool is Very Super Green

PRODUCT REVIEW – Plenty Magazine reviews Verysupercool Greeting Cards

Move over cuteoverload.com: The Rules of Cuteness has marked its territory on the green stationery market. We just discovered that the overenthusiastically- named VerySuperCool makes a shamelessly endearing line of cards that feature portraits of wide-eyed doggies printed on 100% PCR paper with soy-based inks. Inside the cards, you will find inspirational quotations such as “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better” (Albert Einstein), and I’ve seen a look in dog’s eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts” (John Steinbeck). Here, here.

Click here to order online. Even at $3.50 each these cards are totally irresistible. But don’t you wish you could buy them all as a set?

Verysupercool reviewed at the National Stationery Show

And the show (coverage) goes on.

The National Stationery Show is one of the more notable markets for finding fresh faces and fresh ideas. Truly, this is an industry niche that must continually reinvent itself in order to survive in a world gone “tech.” And when we consider that it not only meets the technology challenge head on, but continually draws in new talent as well – we would surely put the stationery category up there with the top contenders on the gift industry’s creative short list.

While it’s true the paper category is a bit easier for a newcomer to enter – it’s not quite as expensive to produce paper and printing samples as, say, ceramics, glassware, or even textiles – we still have to give credit to the ingenuity and creativity brought to the table.

A large majority of those “fresh faces” we met last week might have been new to the show, but in many cases the talent they brought with them had been finely tuned in other industries. If we heard it once, we heard it over and again: “I thought it was time for me to start doing this for myself.” Yes, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the stationery biz!

Fresh Faces, Well-seasoned Talent

Another show newcomer, Austin, Texas based VerySuperCool has only been in business six months, but the company’s unique cards already have placement in some 50 stores. The greeting cards feature rescue dogs – there are 40 all told – that company owners Sue Rostvold and Allan Little “know personally.” They photograph the dogs that are pictured on the cards, which are printed on 100 percent, recycled paper.

Interestingly, many of the outlets that carry the VerySuperCool line are hardware stores; chief among them Ace Hardware – which speaks volumes about how diverse the industry’s distribution channels have become.

by Carline Kennedy and Maria Weiskott

Gifts & Decorative Accessories Magazine

See Full Story…

Verysupercool, as seen in the January 2006 issue of Austin Business Journal

GREETINGS, AUSTINITES!

Some very supercool things are happening for an Austin greeting card company.

The Trends 2006 issue of Greetings etc., a trade magazine for the greeting card industry, has named Verysupercool the best new product.

Verysupercool, whose greeting cards feature dog portraits, was founded by animal lovers Sue Rostvold and Allan Little.

“We are delighted that Greetings etc. has recognized our cards in their all-important Trends 2006 issue. It’s a fantastic endorsement of the beauty and quality of our cards,” Rostvold says.

“When we create our cards, we are very passionate about capturing the very essence of the dog and matching that image with a thought-provoking quote.”

Greetings etc. chose Verysupercool as the best new product just months after the Austin company launched it’s line of cards. Rostvold attributed the win to the fact that there aren’t any other greeting cards on the market similar to Verysupercool’s.

Verysupercool also has a strong commitment to the environment, she says. The company’s greeting cards and envelopes are printed on 100 percent post-consumer paper.

In Austin, the cards are available at Breed & Co., Casa de Luz, Eco-Wise, Farm to Market Grocery, Moxie and the Compound, Sparks, Westlake Animal Hospital, Wheatsville Co-op and Whole Foods Market.

by Chantal Outon

Trends 2006 Issue – Features Verysupercool

January 1, 2006 – Just weeks after Verysupercool launched it’s new product line, Greetings etc named them BEST OF THE NEW in their Trends 2006 issue!

Verysupercool, as seen in the December 2005 issue of Austin Business Journal/Deal Report

Austin-based Verysupercool LLC (www.verysupercool.com) is selling their dog-themed greeting cards at the two Whole Foods Market Inc. (www.wholefoods.com) stores in Austin. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

By Melanie Spencer
American Statesman Staff

Last week, Sue Rostvold and her husband, Allan LIttle, launched their Austin-based greeing card company, Verysupercool. You might have seen them scouting for “models” along Town Lake or Zilker Park – the four-legged canine kind, that is. Each of their cards is an homage to a beloved pet, and the business allows Rostvold to merge her talents of photography and printing.

Austin American-Statesman: How and when did Verysupercool come to be?
Sue Rostvold: When our dog Scooby passed away, we found ourselves searching for the proper way to memorialize him. Losing Scooby was hard, and through sharing with friends; (we) realized others also found it difficult to offer comfort over the loss of a pet. When several friends also lost pets, I begin to make greeting cards using photos of the beloved pets. Rather than merely saying “deepest sympathy,” I included meaningful quotes that had a more universal appeal. Soon, I began creating a variety of fun cards with quotes for all occasions.

What about card making as an art form appeals to you?

The real art form for us is capturing the essence of each dog, be they mutt or purebred, old or young, working dog or fancy dog – we love them all. We found that they eyes are the windows to the soul and when we can capture that gaze with a camera, it makes a really compelling card.

Can you walk us through your process?

Well, for the most part, we are interested in real dogs that belong to real people. We walk Town Lake, scouting for an unusual or particularly eye-catching dog that we think would make a great card. We’ve developed a little business card that we offer to dog owners that explains what we are doing. Most people get very excited and act as if their dog has been chosen for “Star Search.” If we get the right shot and a dog is chosen for a card, the owners receive complimentary cards.

What is the most challenging aspect of working together and what is the most rewarding?

We pretty much agree about the fundamentals – we love dogs and we care about the environment. We find beauty in al types of dogs, and it’s fun to scope out the potential models while enjoying the local parks or walking around Town Lake. We print our cards on 100 percent post consumer waste paper. Photographing dogs isn’t easy, and catching that moment when they are looking exactly at the camera is even harder. We don’t even want to talk about the silliness that goes on while inthe middle of a photo session. Let’s just say sqeaky toys, treats and high-pitched, embarrassing voices are usually involved.

How or where do you find your inspiration?

How can you not be inspired by dogs? They give unconditional love, and they are there when you need them most. Our sweet dog Wenge, who is nearing the end of her life, has given us so much joy and inspiration over the last 15 years. She needs 24-hour care now, and it is a pleasure to give back to an animal that has done nothing but love us and entertain us her whole life. As for other dogs, we just like to get a snapshot of their real personality to offer a smile to others. We really enjoy spending time with all the different dogs and getting to know the owners; dog people are usually pretty cool. And then there are the inpriational quotes that you will find inside each card: from Emerson and Einstein to Aristotle and Shakespeare.

mspencer@statesman.com