Four Generations of Print Innovation

How This British Family Business is Making Paper Bloom with Seeds
In the heart of Leicester, a fourth-generation family printing business is revolutionising the industry with an eco-friendly innovation: paper that grows into wildflowers. SeedPrint, led by Thomas Willday from the historic Willday Printers, has developed fully recycled paper embedded with wildflower seeds that can be planted directly into soil.
The concept is refreshingly simple: take recycled paper, transform it into pulp, add wildflower seeds, and create unique sheets that give waste paper a second life as blooming gardens. Each piece of paper, ranging from 200 to 300gsm in thickness, is handcrafted to ensure the seeds remain viable for up to two years.
“Our aim is to show that being sustainable isn’t just about talking — it’s about doing,” says Willday, whose family’s printing expertise spans four generations. “We’re taking waste paper and turning it into something that actively benefits our environment and supports pollinators.”
The company, which produces everything from business cards to wedding invitations, operates entirely in the UK, maintaining the family’s long-standing commitment to British manufacturing. Their innovative approach to sustainable printing is proving that even traditional industries can adapt to meet modern environmental challenges.
For gardening enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers alike, this blend of heritage printing skills and environmental innovation represents a promising new chapter in sustainable paper products. As spring approaches – the optimal planting time for these unique papers — the Leicester-based company continues to demonstrate how traditional family businesses can lead the way in environmental innovation.