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Fine art albums and print products for professional photographers

Our sustainable impact journey

At Folio Albums, our commitment to environmentally friendly, green practices and sustainable policies is deeply ingrained in our ethos. Recognising the profound impact of our photography industry on the environment, we prioritise conscious choices to positively influence our planet.

Eco credentials are at our core

Our approach with Folio Albums has always been to marry the craftsmanship of the past with the technology of today.

To take what was great about historical processes and materials and bring it forward into the future – but without damaging our planet or its potential.

Yorkshire road leading to hills

Our mission

Folio Albums is committed to supporting print-passionate photographers with handcrafted, high-quality fine art products designed with a low environmental impact

Our eco-innovation timeline

We have started well, but the journey does not end.

  1. Eco from the beginning

    2010

    Folio Albums was created with eco credentials at its core. We started by sourcing eco-friendly materials, papers, packaging, and even suppliers. We were also one of the first European companies to exclusively print using inkjet, meaning that unlike other suppliers, we do not use silver-halide chemical printing.

  2. State of the art workshop

    2013

    Our move to a state of the art workshop in 2013 was a significant step, placing sustainability at the forefront. The workshop, with a B energy rating, is climate-controlled, lit with low-energy LED lighting, and powered by green electricity.

  3. Waste reduction

    2014

    This year saw a focused effort on reducing waste through lean manufacturing techniques in our production processes. Additionally, we transitioned to a carbon-neutral server network with ANS, aligning our server practices with our commitment to sustainability.

  4. Carbon footprint reduction

    2019

    Investing in more space and doubling our workshop in 2019 allowed us to accommodate larger stock, resulting in reduced carbon footprint. Lean manufacturing practices and operations were further enhanced, contributing to our sustainability goals.

  5. Membership of Carbon Neutral Britain

    2022

    We are extremely proud that we became a member of Carbon Neutral Britain in 2022 which showcases our continuous growth and innovation. Introducing new eco-friendly packaging materials like paper tape and bubble wrap also marked a milestone in achieving plastic-free packaging.

  6. Reduced hours and shipping

    2022

    June is typically a quiet month as photographers gear up for the wedding season, which is why we drop to a 4-day working week. This allows us to reduce our carbon footprint with fewer commutes and less energy usage. We also switch to shipping twice per week instead of daily to further reduce our impact by consolidating shipments.

Some of our impact reduction initiatives

A responsible business

As a responsible business, we actively review and implement new ways to minimise our impact on the environment. Below are just some of the ways we do this:

  • We’re powered by green electricity which is 100% from renewable sources.
  • 95% recycling rate for office waste and cardboard and our general waste contributes to generating energy.
  • Our PAS 2060 servers are certified as carbon neutral.
  • Our workshop is heavily insulated, climate controlled and uses low-energy LED lighting throughout.
  • Our product TLC guide and stationery are carbon-negative.
More eco articles in our Library >
Album and photo book TLC care guide and thank you note
A UK supplier made photo book open and showing the high quality fine art printing on matt paper

Eco-conscious products

Crafted for enduring beauty, our products are designed to last a lifetime without compromising the delicate balance of the environment and its global ecosystem. All materials are sourced from sustainable origins, and we are committed to using 100% recycled materials whenever feasible.

In our quest for suppliers, we carefully select those who share our dedication to environmental protection. The paper we use is FSC-approved and the leather adheres to strict REACH standards, is not chrome-tanned and is produced in the EU. We support the use of leather for its natural and durable qualities and our leather is always a by-product of the meat industry meaning it doesn’t go to landfill.  

If you are interested in the eco credentials of any specific product, please contact us. We are eager to share the details of our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Packaging & logistics

While we want our products to last for generations, we aim for packaging that leaves no enduring environmental footprint. By incorporating recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible, we take pride in the fact that our packaging is entirely free of plastics.

Our chosen packaging supplier not only provides recycled cardboard, they use solar panels to generate their own electricity and have a state-of-the-art energy efficiency compressor and a waste extraction system that bales waste for resale.

After much research, we chose DHL and DPD as our shipping partners. Largely due to their carbon-neutral approach, actively offsetting all CO2 emissions and strong commitment to limiting their impact on the environment. We also do our bit by combining orders wherever possible to reduce the number of shipments, and allow people to collect from us if they prefer.

Sustainable packaging and shipping information

Consciously selected cover materials

Our cover materials are chosen with sustainability in mind, ensuring every album is as eco-friendly as it is beautiful.

A box full of leather offcuts used to upcycle and to be reused in projects

Giving offcuts a new lease of life

We strive to minimise or eliminate waste whenever possible. Following the handcrafting of our leather goods, we always have leather off-cuts. In an effort to give these remnants a new purpose, we introduced upcycle leather boxes. These boxes contain leather offcuts and are available for a nominal charge to cover shipping. Alternatively, you can collect them for free from our workshop.

We envision these materials being repurposed for new and exciting projects, whether you’re into crafting, have a specific project in mind, or simply want to create something unique, like a new pair of earrings. The possibilities are diverse, from crafting motorbike seats to designing passport covers. We’ve seen some amazing examples of upcycling our leather. 

Check availability on Etsy >

Member's of Carbon Neutral Britain

We aspire to be carbon neutral, but realistically, we know this will take time. While we work on achieving this goal, we are committed to offsetting all our carbon emissions. We’re so passionate about this that we even strive for carbon-negative supplies where possible.

We’re proud members of Carbon Neutral Britain, which means we offset any carbon emissions we can’t avoid by contributing to the Carbon Neutral Britain Woodland fund. The offsetting we purchase contributes to projects including reforestation, deforestation prevention and woodland management projects, with a strong focus on having a positive impact on the local wildlife, ecology and biodiversity.

Examples of the most recently supported projects include preventing deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest, reforestation after wildfires in Australia, as well as woodland planting in the UK.

Learn more about CNB projects >
Folio Album carbon neural certification logo

We're here to help

Find yourself here with a question?

As a professional photographer, you know that every wedding you capture is a unique work of art. Just like selecting the right lens or finding the perfect lighting, choosing the ideal album manufacturer is a crucial decision that can make or break your client’s experience.

At Folio Albums, we’re not just about crafting stunning albums; we’re also about building meaningful relationships with professional photographers. We want to be your trusted partner on this incredible adventure.

No matter what queries are on your mind, we’re ready to have a conversation. Click the “Schedule a Call” button below, and let’s arrange a time to discuss how we can complement your photography with our exceptional albums. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned pro, we’re here to support you and your business.

A black and white photo showing one of the Folio Albums team helping a photographer via a Zoom call.

Oh stop it, you're making us blush

Feedback we love to share

Roxy Wallis

I really cannot stress how impeccable the service from Folio albums has been after my first order. The communication was flawless, the albums exceeded expectation and are truly stunning, the packaging is excellent and eco friendly and the little thoughtful details like the handwritten card are proof that this is company who really cares.

I’m beyond geekishly excited when showing them to clients and I guess that says everything it needs to! The paper feels exceptional, the attention to detail is spot on and I’m so proud to offer clients these now.

The only problem is I now want to order a wedding album for our wedding…

Roxy Wallis

Captured by Roxy

Victoria Maher

I had been considering albums for along time and had followed Folio on Instagram for quite sometime and was always drawn in by the class and beauty of not only their albums but their prints too.

So I bit the bullet and decided to place an order for a sample album. I could not be happier with how it went. For buttons I forgot to click or just things I wanted to add on, Folio were incredible. I spoke with both Becky and Julie, mostly Becky who was incredibly patient and helpful with my many confusions. Starting into albums is quite daunting and I really appreciate how they bend over backwards to help.

Thank you and I look forward to getting my albums from you in the future!

Victoria Maher

Vicki Maher Photography

Eimear O'Donnell

Incredible customer service. Stewart and his team go above and beyond to ensure their customers receive the best possible product and genuinely care about customer satisfaction. Their product and the whole ordering process is impeccable and I’m so proud to be able to offer something so beautiful to my customers too. Could not recommend Folio Albums enough!

Eimear O'Donnell

Eimear O'Donnell Photography