Green candidate turns leaflet waste into wildflower bloom

The upcoming local and European elections have led to a flurry of leaflets clogging our letterboxes, but a local Green candidate has come up with a novel solution to reduce waste. Instead of sending leaflets to the landfill, Councillor Eva Dowling is issuing special sustainable canvass cards that can be planted in your garden.

The card is embedded with wildflower seeds which can bloom when planted. The paper is made from the bark of the Daphne bush which regenerates, naturally providing a renewable resource. The paper is acid free and will benefit the economic enterprise of rural craftspeople in Nepal. The card was printed by An Siopa Páipéar, Killynaher, Belturbet, County Cavan. 

This is the first time such cards have been used in an election campaign in Ireland. Councillor Dowling has made a special effort to run a sustainable campaign and uses non-toxic, vegetable-based inks on her regular leaflets. She was successfully able to avoid printing any posters this year by reusing her posters from the 2019 local election.

Councillor Eva Dowling, Green Party candidate for Stillorgan said;

"As we approach the final days of this local election campaign, these plantable canvassing cards are a small gesture for local residents to ask them to consider voting Green on Friday. 

"People on the doorsteps are telling me that they are frustrated with the amount of paper that they are receiving on this election campaign. I decided to make these plantable cards as a way to show we can use considered, compostable and sustainable materials, even during an election.

"When I was first elected in 2019, it was the first time we had a Green representing our area in almost 30 years. On Friday, I am asking the residents of Clonskeagh, Mount Merrion, Goatstown, Stillorgan, Kilmacud, Leopardstown, Foxrock Cornelscourt, and Cabinteely to consider giving me their first preference and keep a Green voice for our community."

Councillor Eva Dowling is Leas Cathaoirleach and Green group leader on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.