Vinyl stickers have been an integral part of Dear Summit Supply Co. since 2016. They’re well loved by my customers and can stick on just about anything, from your phone to your car, and they’ll last for years to come.
But, I’m phasing them out.
Once my current stock of vinyl stickers sells out, I won’t be restocking them.
Why on earth would I stop selling such a profitable and popular product?
Several reasons.
The Problem with vinyl stickers
Vinyl stickers are everywhere. They look great and last well when exposed to the elements or washed in a dishwasher.
But vinyl stickers are also pure poison for our waterways, wildlife, and soils.
When your vinyl sticker eventually wears out or you’re finished using it to spruce up your water bottle or car window, it can’t be recycled or composted. Instead it will likely end up in a landfill where it will slowly break down into tiny plastic particles that will never truly deteriorate or go away. These tiny plastic pieces are called microplastics, and the even bigger problem is that they often don’t stay just in a landfill -- they all too often will end up washed away in a stream or out into the ocean, where those microplastics are eaten by wildlife (and eventually, by us humans).
Microplastics are even found in our tap water.
Not only are these tiny plastic particles found in our oceans, wildlife, and our own food and water supplies - not only are we eating plastic on a daily basis - but those plastic particles can often carry toxic bacteria and harmful chemicals which then harm the animals and people who ingest them.
It’s a mess, isn’t it?
The more I’ve learned about the problems with plastic, the more it has become clear to me that I cannot, in good conscience, design and sell a product which is made entirely of plastic. I can make changes to my shipping and packaging, and eliminate plastics in those realms, but if I’m still selling a plastic sticker, I’m nothing but a hypocrite.
I had to find something better.
Why Wood, then?
Put simply, wood is a natural material. It biodegrades.
Wood can be sourced sustainably, in a way that doesn’t contribute to deforestation, but instead uses wood harvested from forests which are carefully managed and maintained.
Wood is a perfect material for making stickers because it can be cut very thin and can even be a bit flexible (with the grain) while still remaining strong and durable. Plus, wooden stickers just look darned good; the design is actually engraved into the wood, rather than just printed on top, creating a beautifully textured look and feel.
And in the end, the most important reason I am ditching vinyl stickers in favor of wooden stickers is because of what happens to the sticker when you’re finished with it: It naturally biodegrades.
Instead of breaking down into harmful and toxic microplastics (which will never truly go away), a wooden sticker will completely break down into the soil, (especially if composted!), becoming something useful and beneficial even in its own demise.
That’s a welcome change from the unavoidably negative ending for every vinyl sticker!
These Wooden Stickers.
Wooden stickers can be made in a variety of ways, but the type I’ve chosen are made of cherry wood, for its beautiful and durable characteristics, and engraved by laser in North Carolina, USA, in the workshop of my production partner, Jake at TheWoodenPin.com.
The wood is sourced sustainably here in the USA, and there are no chemical sealants in the wood or adhesive backing, so these wood stickers are not only plastic-free, but also entirely non-toxic.
And it doesn't stop there. I had previously tried a different manufacturer who sold their wooden stickers in their proprietary packaging, which inserted each individual sticker into a plastic sleeve. (I know!)
Plastic-free packaging for a plastic-free product
Now, that plastic wasn’t technically plastic, but cellophane - a plant-based material which will eventually biodegrade. But the problem is that it looks and feels exactly the same, and sends a confusing message to anyone who picks up that sticker and its packaging in a store or sees it online. Additionally, cellophane production involves toxic carbon disulfide and it can release methane gas in landfills, contributing to global warming. So, perhaps it’s not all that eco-friendly, after all.
Instead of a plastic or cellophane sleeve, I’ve found a better way to package my wooden stickers; I designed a 100% recycled paper backing card with all the pertinent info about the sticker, which is then stuck to the wooden sticker with small adhesive dots. It’s minimal, and it gets the job done for my wholesale customers who need to display the stickers in a more organized way or give a little more information about what they are and how they work.
No need for a plastic sleeve at all!
The Bigger Picture
These new wooden stickers are a huge improvement on their plastic predecessors - in fact, I don’t think there’s even much to compare. I won’t be restocking any of the few remaining designs available as vinyl stickers from Dear Summit, but you can get them now as beautiful wooden stickers!
Check out my current selection of eco-friendly wooden stickers here.
And you don’t have to stop there! You can make an even bigger difference by suggesting wooden stickers to your favorite brands and designers. They may not even know that there’s a plastic-free option available, and hearing that their customers want wooden stickers and other sustainable alternatives can make a great impact on their product choices. Use your voice!
And even more important than the discussion of wood stickers vs. vinyl stickers is this: take a moment to think about where your things come from, and where they will end up when you’re finished with them. Is the impact a positive one, or negative? Our everyday choices do add up! Join me, and make ditching vinyl stickers just the beginning of our journey toward a better impact on our planet and the creatures and people we share it with!
Sources:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/science/microplastics
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2017-6-november-december/ask-mr-green/cellophane-better-plastic
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