Greta Thunberg is an inspiration to the young and to the not so young. 
I saw her arriving at Lisbon’s docks, after sailing the Atlantic, listened to her direct, logical, poignant speech and felt the energy of a determined girl, that speaks what millions think about the inexorability of the catastrophe that will happen if we don’t stop having suicidal behaviours towards the planet.

My pictures of her made me think that I can do my part as a photographer too. Finding a more sustainable way of selling my photos in print is a challenge to old habits, as it is challenging to modify our daily routines to reinvent small actions that multiplied have huge impact on our planet and lives.

I started with the choice of a renewable source paper. Decided for 90% bamboo fibers and 10% cotton made by Hahnemühle. As the german company mentions, “The plants that provide the cellulose require minimal maintenance, grow quickly and don’t need any pesticides. Their rapid growth means that more cellulose can be produced on the same cropland than with other raw materials, and they also require much less water, helping to save valuable resources and protect the environment.”

Packaging and branding were another part of the equation, as card tubes for shipping normally have plastic lids, stickers use paper and glue and, personally, I think “less is more”. So my decision was to make a stamp I could use in different ways, uncountable times; use card prisms for shipping with no lids, made from recycled paper; and hand-write messages that accompany the print in photo-paper leftovers. 

Ink management of my printer and efficiency were also decisive factors to have it, although professional photo printer inks are not yet eco-friendly, cartridge recycling is wide-spread in Portugal.

I will continue to pursue more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in my print cycle and delivery, and at the same time use more and more eco-friendly materials.

I want at the same time to show whoever buy my work that I took great care with it and that the buyer is investing in unique, homemade, low carbon-print, but also in personal relationships.