Our road to sustainability at MILK

Steps that help our Photo Books & Albums be eco-friendly

It’s important to us to source the best materials to handcraft your timeless photo books and albums, while also looking after our world around us. Being based in New Zealand, every day we see the beauty of nature, and we are reminded how beneficial it is to look after that. This is why we are making big and small changes to our materials and business processes, to help us on our journey towards sustainability.

1. Materials that matter

At MILK, we believe your memories deserve to be preserved beautifully as well as responsibly. That’s why all our paper stocks are archival, acid-free, and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). This certification ensures the paper comes from responsibly managed forests that support biodiversity, prevent deforestation, and promote fair labour practices. It’s globally recognized, giving you peace of mind that your photo books are both good for the planet and designed to last a lifetime without fading or breaking down.

Many of our cover fabrics are REACH compliant, FSC certified, and vegan-friendly, so you can choose the style that best reflects your story without compromising on sustainability. Our range of high-quality linens not only look timeless but are also more eco-conscious than synthetic alternatives. Each fabric is selected for its durability, texture, and graceful aging, ensuring your photo book remains a keepsake for generations. For those seeking a cruelty-free option, our vegan leathers are 100% phthalate-free.

Even the inks we use to print your memories are eco-friendly. Both REACH compliant and Green Leaf certified, they minimize environmental impacts without compromising on print quality. Not only do they produce vibrant, archival-quality prints that bring your memories to life, but they also align with our commitment to responsible production.

We want you to have a beautiful eco-friendly photo album that stands the test of time, which is why, at MILK, materials matter.

2. Handcrafted with love

All our Photo Books and Photo Albums are handcrafted with love and care to reduce re-printing and wasting materials. All MILK products are made to order, only using materials when needed; this means we don’t have mass amounts of unused stock sitting around collecting dust or at risk of being thrown out.

Handcrafting is at the heart of what we do at MILK Books. Each photo book and album is assembled by talented artisans who bring care, precision, and a human touch to every detail, something machines alone can't replicate. This handcrafted approach not only ensures exceptional quality and durability, but it also supports a slower, more thoughtful production process that naturally reduces waste and overproduction.

This technique allows us to celebrate the beauty of traditional book making, create lasting keepsakes, and make choices that are kinder to both people and the planet.

3. Protecting your memories

It is our goal for your memories to arrive intact. Therefore, we ship all orders in a cardboard mailing box with cardboard air pockets to take the brunt of any bangs or bumps along the journey. For extra protection, heavier orders are sent with a 7-layer cardboard wrap instead of the standard bubble wrap. You can recycle all our shipping materials, including our classic white wrapping paper, and any stickers or tape, straight into your domestic recycling.

The only material at MILK that decomposes with time is our packaging.

To help protect your memories once in your hands, follow our care-guide or order a bespoke Presentation Box for further protection. Our Presentation Boxes offer that extra level for protection from curious pets, small sticky fingers, and tipped coffee table candles.

4. Design details and story moments

The environmental impact with shipping your keepsake across the world unfortunately cannot be avoided. This is why we use DHL’s GoGreen initiative and ship all DHL orders in poly-mailers made with 100% with recycled materials that can be curbside recycled.

While FedEx doesn’t currently have a GoGreen initiative or curbside recyclable mailers, we believe in their goal to be carbon neutral by 2040 and stay up to date with all environmental changes FedEx look to implement.

5. Our environment

As we are a company from New Zealand, protecting our environment is always at the forefront of our mind. That's why we pride ourselves on providing custom made products made with eco-friendly materials, so not only are your books and albums personal to you, but they are gentle on the environment.

MILK’s offices are in an ecologically and sustainably designed building, which received the first 5 Star As–Built Greenstar rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Many of our staff also utilize public transport for getting to and from work. There is always work to help further improve our own environment to be more eco-friendly which we try to implement one step at a time.

6. Your contribution

Currently, our FedEx poly-mailer bags can’t be curbside recycled as they are classed as soft plastic. However, they can be taken to your local soft plastic recycling initiative for proper disposal.

When you choose an eco-friendly photo album or photo book from MILK Books, you’re not only preserving your milestones for generations, you’re also supporting our journey toward more sustainable practices.

Get out there and look after your environment! Take public transport, recycle your MILK packaging, check out local clean-up events, and let your voice be heard. If you have any ideas on how you can help MILK on our road to sustainability, please feel free to reach out.

At MILK, we believe every small action contributes to a greater good. From the materials we source to the way we craft and ship your photo books, sustainability is part of our story and yours. Together, we can continue to honor memories beautifully while caring for the planet we all share.