The background and an introduction

Favini’s journey towards sustainability began in the early 1990s: In 1992 Favini invented a method to reuse the algae which was infesting the Venetian Lagoon, it originated from a request from the Water Authority of Venice. So it was that in February of that year in the Rossano Veneto plant, Favini started the first industrial production of Alga Carta.

Achille Monegato, who at this time was the Head of Laboratory and R&D, still remembers the first production, which took place between 10 and 11 a.m. As the smell of seaweed wafted through the factory, the patent that would be filed within a week was being written. “The main critical issue was the speed of decomposition of the seaweed from the time of harvesting, which is why the drying step was essential to incorporate this material into the pulp,” Achille recounts today. The dried algae facilitated paper production, giving Favini the distinction of being the first paper mill to use algae in production.

The success of paper made from algae was not long in coming. As early as 1993, the Alga Carta project was approved by the then EEC as a Life programme for new clean applied sciences. This was followed in 1994 by Favini receiving the Philip Morris award for environmental advancement.

Even on TV there was talk of Favini’s new product, ‘we were overwhelmed with interview requests,’ says Achille. The buzz in the audience was mainly about the image of the city of Venice, it was later that it took on a more environmentally sustainable connotation.

Everyone in the company was enthusiastic about the project, from the then President Andrea Favini and his son CEO Marco Favini to the plant and sales managers. A project that was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Consorzio Venezia Nuova and Magistrato delle acque, ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) and Ecolstudio of Padua.

How has the brand and its sample collateral progressed over the years?

The launch of Alga Carta was an opportunity to introduce the Favini brand, thus revising the marketing strategies that until then had focused on promoting Colorissimi, the leading Italian recognised brand in coloured paper ranges , which is known today as Burano.

From the 1990s onwards, the Favini name then came to the fore, recognised as the innovative and environmentally aware paper mill.

Alga Carta became part of the EcoFavini paper family, which also included Ecoiris, Mais carta and Tree Free. This was a strong message to explain the direction Favini had chosen to take with regard to sustainability, despite the fact that the market – in general – had not yet developed an awareness.

Thirty years later, coming to the present day, Favini has a new brand that embraces and identifies the most sustainable products in the range: Paper from our Echosystem, which of course Alga Carta is part.

Michele Posocco, Favini’s Marketing Manager, explains the difference between EcoFavini and Paper from Our Echosystem. While EcoFavini represented a collection of ecological papers defined as such because of the raw materials they used, and these were alternative fibres or from annual fibres, Paper from Our Echosystem today represents the evolution and response to current market needs. The ecological paper brands have increased, not only using alternative raw materials, but also by using renewable energy in production, recycled material in the pulp, and offsetting any residual un-avoidable CO2 emissions.

To this day, Alga Carta still fascinates, for Michele Posocco it is ‘an example of circular economy and creative reuse of a natural surfeit and created in times when sustainability was not yet an issue on the agenda. The substitution of tree pulp is a theme that has long surprised and still creates considerable interest, as does the theme of protecting the seas and oceans. The result is a paper that prints very well, with a rough appearance due to inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Evolution of the logo and brand image

In the 1990s, Alga Carta’s logo was figurative: the image was reminiscent of Venice, famous for its lagoon navigated its particular boats, the gondolas.

In the 2000s, Alga Carta entered the ‘SHIRO’ hat, this word comes from the Japanese and means ‘pure, white’, it sat alongside other paper ranges. It was temporarily rebranded as SHIRO ALGA CARTA and the logo underwent stylistic adjustments to follow the guidelines of the brand identity, and this included a change of font.

In 2019: another turning point! Alga Carta goes back to basics with its simple, direct, memorable and descriptive brand. Alga Carta, the paper made from algae.

Even the sample books, essential for presenting the paper to the market, have evolved:

In the 1990s, the sample books contained strong references to the Venetian lagoon where the algae was originally harvested: Gondolas, the sea and the skyline of St. Mark’s Square.

In the 2000s, the reference was to its distinctive ingredient – seaweed – becoming the hero of the graphics. One is made by the impression of used boat ropes impregnated with ink!

More recently, the graphics are more minimalist and geometric: textures from the oversized letters that make up the Favini brand intersect each other creating an interplay of colour and pattern.

Towards the future

Favini’s past and future are continually linked through Alga Carta, as it was the first upcycling project launched by Favini from a time when this concept had not yet taken the shape and understanding that we know it as today. After several years on the market, it gained the aura of an iconic product, initially boosting the Favini brand and helping the company to establish itself as a trendsetter in the world of ecological papers and then by pointing the way to an alternative path for sustainability in the paper industry.

Andrea Favini, the company’s current Marketing and Export Sales Manager, says: ‘I still remember an exchange that took place in the early 2000s between us and a major producer of cellulose fibres. He asked us what reason we had for introducing into the market a paper made from marine ‘waste’, which was dirty (‘spotted’) and smelled of algae, when the market offered very pure cellulose fibres, bleached and guaranteed by FSC™ certification. We replied that we were imagining a world where every resource was fully utilised, including industrial waste and biomass; a world where waste matter is converted into raw material’.

And time has confirmed our actions, a large number of companies have since followed the path of Upcycling.

As far as the future development of Alga Carta is concerned, Andrea Favini says that the connection with the sea and the remarkable aesthetic qualities of this product make Alga Carta still an immensely popular material today, so it is hard to imagine it being any different from yesterday. However, as Favini will never stop searching for new alternative fibres to become today’s raw materials, ‘I like to imagine that the sea will become an even more central theme for a possible new product, on the way to an increasingly sustainable industry.

Intro

Alga Carta, the paper made from algae, has been captivating audiences since its inception in the 1990s. Originally created to convert the problem of excessive algae growth in the delicate ecosystem of the Venice into an opportunity, this innovative paper continues to be manufactured using the same circular economy principle. Drawing on algae sourced from marine environments, Alga Carta showcases its 10% seaweed particles on its surface.

Today Alga Carta is part of a collection of ecological papers that responds to the multiple needs and desires of brand owners that wish to communicate on the most sustainable media possible: Paper from our Echosystem.

As part of Paper from our Echosystem collection, in regard to Alga Carta it is guaranteed that:

• Made from eco-innovative raw materials, in this case from upcycling 10% seaweed.
• The emissions are measured and have been totally offset.
• It is made with renewable energy sources; in the case of Alga Carta this is self-produced.
• Proudly holds FSC™ certification, highlighting its commitment to being both recyclable and biodegradable.
• It is produced in accordance with a production process which is monitored and constantly improved.

Intro

Alga Carta is created with algae harvested from marine areas in difficulty and its visual book could only be inspired by these settings. The Alga Carta visual book is an editorial project conceived and designed to convey the identity of the paper, its nature. Favini absolutely wanted this booklet to be capable of inspiring designers and recount the concept with which the Alga Carta paper is made.

Given the nature of the product, the printing techniques chosen for this visual book remain few and are not particularly extravagant. This is because we wanted to make paper the main character, to showcase its characteristics and story.

The concept phase: The theme and the connection with Alga Carta

With a paper that comes from the sea, our visual book could only be inspired by a marine setting. The visual book “Beachcomber” collates a series of images by Lisa Woollett, who by her own definition is a photographer, author and “beachcomber” living by the Cornish coast.

The images, printed on Alga Carta, document her wanderings along the shores of Great Britain and tell the stories of natural and man-made things found along the shore. Lisa witnesses the various finds, clothing and abandoned objects that can ruin the balance of the marine ecosystem.

Lisa’s story complements that of Alga Carta, born from a process of creative reuse of algae from marine areas in difficulty. Thanks to the visual book, it is possible to see the printing quality of this paper.

The production phase: even with print, the paper remains the main player

Alga Carta has a characteristic speckle on the surface: it is the algae that, after being micronized, gives its distinctive appearance.

To enhance the naturalness of this product and its ecological characteristics, the print technique that has been mainly used is CMYK. The colours are brilliant and the speckled surface of the paper is always visible between the images.

The pages display alternate shots of sand and sea with shots of objects found on the beach: slippers, shoes, boots, fishing gear, personal hygiene items.

Seed is a company that collaborates with leading scientists and research partners worldwide to develop scientifically validated probiotics, supporting gastrointestinal, dermatological, oral, paediatric, and nutritional health.

For Seed, sustainability goes beyond the environment; it’s an ethos that focuses on both product innovations as well as their packaging.

Every element of their packaging is designed to be environmentally friendly, protecting the products whilst being gentle on our planet.

Seed has created refillable glass jars, meaning that for repeat purchases only a small compostable bag is sent. Furthermore, their products are packaged using biodegradable paperfoam.

And the outer packaging? This is where we come in!

Together with Seed, we developed a personalised paper, coming from the Alga Carta recipe.

If you too are interested in creating your own unique paper (requiring a commercial minimum quantity), contact us.

The ingredients of this paper make it eco-friendly: it’s made from algae that would otherwise harm the delicate marine ecosystems from where they are sourced.

And the colour? The colour has been custom-made specifically for the Seed project.

This paper wraps the outer box that contains the products and is entirely recyclable and biodegradable.

What do you think of the result?

Our Sales Director, Andrea Favini, who collaborated on the project, says:

“The Seed project is a praiseworthy example of environmental sustainability applied to a product.

The entire packaging has been carefully designed by the brand owner to ensure that each component is environmentally friendly. For the packaging, Alga Carta, which contains 10% algae, was chosen in a customised version for Seed.

We developed a shade of green to match their brand identity, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve eco-friendly materials without compromising on aesthetics.”