Surfers against Sewage frozen litter card

In greener circles, people are beginning to question the value of sending Christmas cards.

We think it’s a very personal choice as to whether you send them or not – your great Aunt Elsie could be very offended if you don’t.

But there are lots of ways to make sending Christmas greetings a little more thoughtful this year.

So why do we send Christmas cards? The phenomenon began in 1843 where the first Christmas card was created and sent.  A man named John Calcott Horsley printed the first Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole, the friend who had given him the idea.

Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy British businessman, wanted a card he could proudly send to friends and professional acquaintances to wish them a ‘Merry Christmas.’

The card depicted a typical English family enjoying the holiday, and people performing acts of charity, an important part of Victorian Christmas spirit. A thousand copies of the card were printed and sold for one shilling. This is reportedly the first Christmas card to be produced and sold to the public.

This year though, millions of cards will be sent around the world.

Here are a selection of lovely cards on the market for you to send this year:

New surfers against sewage ice sculpture Christmas cards
Europe’s largest environmental boardrider’s campaign group, Surfers Against Sewage, have launched its brand new environmentally friendly fundraising Christmas cards.

They feature marine litter collected from Cornish beaches which has been frozen into an ice sculpture of a barrelling wave. The images are printed onto 100% recycled card using vegetable inks to lessen the environmental impact of their production.

Marine litter is a persistent and long lasting danger to surfers, beach users, wildlife and habitats all around the UK’s coastlines. By buying this card you will help the ‘SAS’ achieve success with their online petition calling the Government to implement a Marine Litter Strategy (you can sign it yourself at sas.org.uk).

The A6 size cards come in packs of 10 and cost £3.50 to non-members or £3.15 for SAS members from surfersagainstsewage.co.uk

Love birds by Photobox

Photobox’s personalised cards helping the NSPCC
PhotoBox, is an online personal publishing and printing service, and has recently launched a brand new range of personalised cards to suit all occasions.

All cards can be customised, text and captions can be added on the front and inside of the card with a good range of fonts and typefaces to choose from.

This year not only will people get to wow their friends and family with a touching personalised card but to celebrate the launch of its new range, PhotoBox has partnered with the NSPCC. A percentage of the sales will go towards supporting the charity and its Child’s Voice appeal.

Sreepur 100 per cent charity card
This year, I have been inspired by the work of Sreepur village charity Bangladesh. Sreepur cares for nearly 100 destitute mothers and 500 abandoned children. The money for this project comes entirely from the British sales of Christmas cards made in the project.

When you purchase these cards, the Sreepur project receives one hundred 100% of the money. The 2009 cards have proven so popular that that they have completely sold out. To ensure you are not disappointed in 2010 email your orders to orders@sreepurcards.org to be made part of the priority list.

Everyclick.com
Following the success of the charity Christmas e-card scheme in 2008, everyclick.com has launched its online Christmas card campaign ‘Considerate Christmas’. Users can buy greetings with a donation to their favourite charity, which can then be sent immediately, or on a set date, to friends, family and colleagues. With Everyclick up to 121% of your donation goes to charity. It’s the quickest way to send greetings and be both green and ethical this Christmas. You don’t even have to worry about the post!

From everyclick.com

The best of the rest

Oxfam
There are a range of Christmas cards available at Oxfam in packs of 10 for £3.99. Oxfam Christmas cards are 100% Forest Stewardship Council certified and made with 50% post-consumer recycled material.

From oxfam.org.uk

Marie Curie
This year Marie Curie is adopting e-cards, so no pre or post consumer waste. There are twenty two designs for you to choose from and personalise. £1 for one eCard, £3 for 5 ecards and if you need to send 100 cards that will be £30.

You can also purchase cards to send which have been exclusively designed by British Designer Cath Kidston in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care. These cards are £3.99 for 10.

From ecards.mariecurie.org.uk

These cards are exclusive to Breast Cancer Care. Proceeds from these cards go to the Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care to fund support and information specifically for younger women with breast cancer. They are produced in the UK and FSC accredited.

Snowflake and reindeer double pack £3.50, five cards of each design from shop.breastcancercare.org.uk

Green Card Company
Green Card Company have designed heavyweight, quality cards made from 100% ecycled paper. (80% post-consumer waste and 20% mill waste.)  They are printed with vegetable-oil based inks.

Packaging is kept to a minimum by re-using packaging and using ‘new’ packaging made from recycled materials. 20% of the total cost of the order (not just card cost) for the charity of your choice on personalised cards. This can be any charity.

Non-personalised cards, £6 for 10 including postage and packaging from greencardcompany.co.uk