With so much focus currently on recycling and how much we waste in the Western world, it seems appropriate for me to pop the spotlight on one of our producer groups who I think are an excellent example at showing what can be recycled.





SALAY (Salay Handmade Paper Industries Inc (SHAPII)) are located in the Philippines. The business started in 1987 as a small family business. According to their website, they now employ over 200 people and make handmade paper, cards and stationery items.


The employment that Salay has created has provided the small town with stability. The production areas are light, airy and spacious. Their workers have benefits, which include free medical consultation, dental health and eyeglasses. and they participate in decision-making, with the option of becoming shareholders. The paper is made with cogon grass (which grows throughout the village), abaca fibre, pineapple leaves, sawdust, salago bark and other materials native to their area. SALAY shows that with effort it is possible to use materials that people wouldn’t usually look twice at and turn them into something quite beautiful.


If you’d like to find out more about the SALAY story (rather than my abbreviated breakdown which really doesn’t do them justice) visit their website.

You can view the SALAY cards we stock here.

(This article was previously posted on the Wordpress blog in May 2008)