British master papermaker James Cropper has partnered with local children’s author Charlotte Mason-Curl to provide the paper for her new children’s book, Elf Chloe’s Surprise.
The book, a heartwarming tale for under-5s, will be used to support The Kids Party Pact, a grassroots campaign promoting a more sustainable mindset around gifting. Fittingly, the book is printed on James Cropper’s Vanguard paper, which is made with 40% recycled content. As a result, each copy contains three recycled coffee cups, with the material sourced from James Cropper’s CupCycling™ initiative.
It means the use of recycled paper is integral to the story in more ways than one, creating an environmentally conscious narrative that is evident on every page. Despite its high level of recycled content, Vanguard paper offers the smoothness and colour accuracy needed when printing a vibrant children’s book.
Jordan Scott, Head of Marketing at James Cropper said, “James Cropper has always been a company firmly rooted in our local area. We’re shaped by places like Kendal and want to help impact them positively in return. It’s been a privilege for the team to meet Charlotte and get involved with this project beyond simply using ethically sourced materials and energy-efficient manufacturing. A sustainable business has to be about educating and inspiring the next generation.
“We’re proud to see our materials used as a blank canvas to create something that will drive change in our community.”
Charlotte was introduced to James Cropper through Hayley Slack, whose own children’s book, Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise, was printed on paper made from recycled coffee cups through James Cropper’s CupCycling™ programme.
“Having a good quality physical item matters,” Charlotte says. “I originally planned to publish through a big print house, but when the proofs came back the quality was terrible. Then I asked if Cropper would donate the paper and they said yes!
“Burneside, the site of James Cropper’s mill, is only a few miles from where I live, and I can cycle to the printers and pick up the books myself. It feels really nice doing something with your local community.”
As Charlotte describes, the inspiration for the story is rooted in her community and her efforts to support a conscious shift away from waste and overconsumption.
She added, “I did some volunteering for a local climate charity and became a climate champion, and through that I set up a local toy swap in Kendal, which is where I live. Parents there were commenting, ‘We're getting our kids' Christmas gifts for free. This is amazing,’ and it's decluttering, second-hand, and better for the planet.
“And something I hear all the time is, 'How do I talk to my children about this? How do I get my child on board with giving second-hand gifts or getting fewer gifts?’ So I wanted to do something that both engaged children in the conversation so they could start thinking about these things around a topic they care about, like birthdays, presents, and Christmas, but also to give parents a tool that they could use to have those conversations with their children.”
Elf Chloe’s Surprise is available now in both paperback and hardback formats. Copies can be found on Amazon or purchased directly from the author at www.charlottecurl.com. A special launch event, sponsored by James Cropper, will be held at the Ragtag Arts & Community Scrapstore in Kendal at 2:30pm on 5 July, where families can enjoy a live reading of the book alongside a host of creative activities.
To learn more about James Cropper and its portfolio of specialty papers, visit www.jamescropper.com.