Plantable Seed Paper
Growing Paper is a South African manufacturer of handmade plantable seed paper, based on a farm in the Paardeberg region near Malmesbury, Western Cape. Since 2010, we have turned post-consumer waste paper into biodegradable seed paper that grows into flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Every sheet is made by hand by 38 people from the local community, using 100% recycled paper and water-based ink. No bleach, no chemicals, no dyes. Just paper, seeds, and water.
What Is Plantable Seed Paper?
Plantable seed paper is handmade recycled paper with seeds embedded directly into the pulp during manufacturing. After the paper has served its purpose, you plant it in soil, water it, and the paper biodegrades as the seeds germinate into flowers, herbs, or vegetables.Â
Growing Paper has produced plantable seed paper in the Western Cape since 2010, keeping roughly 20 tons of waste paper off South African landfills every year. The paper is made from 100% recycled material using water based inks, with no bleach or chemicals added at any stage.Â
Seeds are sourced from reputable suppliers and tested for germination at independent laboratories as well as in Growing Paper’s own on site growing rooms. Each seed type is checked before it goes into production. All 38 employees hand produce every sheet, ensuring consistent quality while sustaining local employment in the Paardeberg region. The result is a product that serves a purpose, then grows into something new.
Browse our full range of plantable seed paper products
Why Choose Growing Paper for Your Seed Paper Products?
We know every business claims to be green. Here is what makes Growing Paper different. These are verifiable facts about how we make our seed paper and what it means for your brand, your event, or your wedding.
Handmade and Supporting Local Employment
Every sheet of Growing Paper is cut, pressed, dried, and finished by hand. We deliberately choose hand labour over automation because it sustains 38 permanent jobs for people from the Malmesbury and Paardeberg communities. Our factory on Wyngaardt Farm employs local workers who would otherwise have limited employment options in this rural area of the Western Cape. Each person's work contributes directly to the quality of every product we ship.
Sustainable with 20 Tons of Waste Recycled Yearly
We collect waste paper from local schools and businesses and turn it into new seed paper products. This keeps approximately 20 tons of paper out of landfills every year. The paper is 100% recycled. No virgin fibre is used at any stage of production. We also reuse our own production waste, including pulp leftovers that go into our papercrete planter range.
Plantable with Seeds Tested in Independent Labs
Every batch of seeds is tested for germination before it goes into our paper. We test at independent laboratories and in our own on site growing rooms to make sure the seeds grow reliably after planting. Available seed types include flower mixes with alyssum, poppies, snapdragon, vygies, and baby's breath. Herb mixes include basil, oregano, and thyme. Vegetable mixes include carrot and lettuce. We also offer single seed types on request.
Biodegradable with Water Based Inks Only
Our printing process uses inkjet technology with water based ink. No solvents, no VOCs, no toxic residue. When you plant the paper, everything breaks down naturally. The paper, the ink, and the binding agents all biodegrade, leaving only the seeds and healthy soil. We do not use any coatings, sealants, or laminates that would prevent biodegradation.
Eco Friendly with No Bleach and No Chemicals
We add nothing to our paper except recycled fibre, water, seeds, and care. No bleach is used to whiten the paper. No chemical dyes are added. No coatings or sealants are applied. The paper is air dried naturally in the Paardeberg sun, which keeps energy use to a minimum. This traditional method of papermaking has the smallest possible environmental footprint.
38 People Employed From the Local Community
We are proud to employ 38 people permanently, from factory floor to management. In a rural area where jobs are limited, every position at Growing Paper means a stable income for a local family. Our production director Nileta Knoetzen works on site at the factory every day and personally oversees quality. The team's skill and dedication are the reason our products have been trusted by brands like WWF, Rovos Rail, and Spier.
What Seed Paper Products Do We Offer?
Growing Paper manufactures a full range of promotional, corporate, wedding, and retail seed paper products. All items are printed on A4 seed paper and cut or die cut to your required size. Core products include business cards in three formats starting at 50x90mm, flyers in A6, DL, and A5 sizes with optional rounded corners, bookmarks in standard 55x200mm or sharp point 47x200mm, coasters in round, scalloped, or square shapes at 90mm, greeting cards, notebooks in A5 size with wiro or singer sewing, and notepads from A7 to A5.Â
We also produce seed kits with biodegradable pots, seed bags, envelopes, gift bags, bottle neck tags, cup sleeves, sunvisors, lanyards, wristbands, and custom die cut shapes. For weddings we offer order of service, invitations, menus, name cards, favours, and confetti in heart and flower shapes.Â
Our papercrete planter kits use our own recycled pulp waste mixed with cement, creating a true circular economy product. We are also the sole South African distributor of MOMO Pencils, handmade in Kenya from recycled newspaper and sold with our seed paper backing cards.
Ready to Order Your Custom Seed Paper Products?
How Do You Plant Seed Paper?
Planting Growing Paper is simple. Place the paper in a pot or garden bed and cover it with a thin layer of potting soil, about 3 to 5 mm deep. Water gently and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Place in a warm spot with indirect sunlight. Seeds typically germinate within 7 to 14 days depending on the variety.Â
Flower mixes, herb mixes, and vegetable mixes each have slightly different growing requirements. For small products under 70 mm by 100 mm, we recommend rocket, vygie, or poppy seeds because these varieties germinate reliably in a smaller surface area. All seeds are tested for germination at independent laboratories and in our own on site growing rooms. If you have questions about planting a specific product, visit our full planting guide with step by step instructions showing each stage from soil preparation to transplanting seedlings.
What Do Customers Say About Growing Paper?
Growing Paper has produced seed paper for leading South African and international brands including Spier, Boschendal, Babylonstoren, Rovos Rail, WWF, Heineken, Inverroche, Fairview Wines, Leroy Merlin, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
These corporate clients choose seed paper because it aligns with their sustainability goals while leaving a lasting impression on their customers. Our team has been featured on Pasella on kykNET, Kwela on SABC2, the Expresso Morning Show, RSG national radio, and the BOLD Podcast.
Whether for a luxury train like Rovos Rail or a conservation organisation like WWF, Growing Paper has created custom seed paper solutions for over 30 South African and international brands.
With over 30 corporate clients across South Africa and Europe, Growing Paper is one of the country’s most experienced seed paper manufacturers.