Turning Trash into Treasure - One Event Badge at a Time
Not Your Average Paper Pushers – We’re Making Sustainability Stick
Hello! We’re Terra Tag & we’re not your average name badge company. We’re on a mission to make events more sustainable, one tag & lanyard at a time. It all started with a heap of discarded plastic name badges after a conference. I’m Rhonda Sweet, a designer, master papermaker & artist by trade & the founder of Terra Tag. When my young son saw that pile of plastic & said, “Mum, you know all that will just end up in the tip, right? That’s so bad for the planet,” I knew he was right. That was my lightbulb moment. Why were we, a creative & conscientious community, still using boring plastic badges & synthetic lanyards that harm the Earth?
So in 2023, our family set out to fix it. Armed with a kitchen blender, some old picture frames, & a big idea, we began crafting sustainable name tags from recycled paper in our garage. Lots of late nights & papermaking experiments later, Terra Tag was born in Queensland, Australia – turning waste paper & seeds into beautiful, eco-friendly name badges. We’ve been growing (quite literally!) ever since.
Just the thing if you're dreaming up a zero-waste event in Sydney that doesn’t leave a trail of trash. Because events shouldn’t cost the Earth.
Our Rescue Mission (a.k.a. How We Make Magic from Scrap)
We affectionately call our production process a rescue mission, because we’re rescuing materials & turning them into something valuable for you.
From Scraps to Sheets
Before Terra Tag gets involved, much of the paper we use was headed straight to landfill. Local businesses, schools & printers often toss out high-quality paper offcuts & misprints. Now, we step in before the bin does. We collect & “rescue” that waste paper – giving it a second chance at greatness. By hand-tearing & blending those scraps, we create a pulp that forms the base of our name tags. Every Terra Tag badge you wear started as someone’s forgotten paper pile that we lovingly transformed.
(Our process in a nutshell: old paper -> pulp -> new paper -> name badge. It’s like reincarnation for paper!)
MacGyver-Upcycling
Forget shiny new factory machines – we’re big fans of inventive, second-hand ingenuity. In true MacGyver spirit, our workshop is filled with repurposed gear: a cafe’s retired blender churns paper pulp instead of smoothies. Our paper moulds & screens? Crafted from old window flyscreens. Even our workbenches & chairs are pre-loved finds. We’ve built Terra Tag with a DIY ethic & a lot of creativity. Every badge we produce has a story behind it, because it was made with tools that have stories too.
(Walk into our studio & you’ll see a quirky setup: rainwater tubs, vintage presses & a makeshift drying box. High-tech? Not really. High-heart? Absolutely.)
Water-Smart Wonder
Did you know traditional paper mills guzzle enormous amounts of water & energy? We knew we had to do things differently. Our papermaking process uses a fraction of the water big factories use. We work in small batches, reusing greywater whenever possible. In fact, each batch of Terra Tag paper sips just about 20 liters of water in total. (That’s less than what one standard load of laundry uses!) We skip harsh chemicals – no bleaches, no dyes. Just water, paper fiber & seeds. Every drop counts & we ensure our process is as gentle on the planet’s resources as our products are.
Sun-Powered Drying
Queensland is blessed with sunshine, so we put it to work. After we press our pulp into new paper sheets, we dry them using a solar-powered setup. We crafted drying racks from repurposed bike wheel frames & flyscreen mesh. On clear days, we let the sheets air-dry in the natural sun. For humid or wet days, we have a solar-heated drying cabinet that finishes the job. It might sound a bit rustic, but this approach means our badges carry an even smaller carbon footprint. We’re not burning extra energy to dry them – the sun does the heavy lifting.
More Than Just Paper
Terra Tag isn’t just about making cool paper products; it’s about making a difference. From day one, we built our ethos around doing right by the environment & our community. Every sheet of seed paper & every recycled lanyard we create is a step towards a cleaner, greener planet. When you hold a Terra Tag name badge, you’re literally holding a piece of that vision in your hands. It’s proof that with a bit of creativity & determination, we can turn the overlooked (waste paper) into the unforgettable (your awesome event badge). Sustainability isn’t an afterthought for us – it’s the entire reason we exist.
Living The 3R's
At Terra Tag, we live & breathe the “3 R’s” of sustainability. We reuse everything we can (equipment, water, materials). We reduce waste by salvaging materials & optimising our process (even our off-cuts & test prints get recycled again!). Of course, we recycle – not just materials, but ideas about what a name badge can be. We’re constantly reimagining products that typically create waste & turning them into something eco-friendly. This mindset flows through how we operate, how we design & how we partner with clients. We’re small, but we like to think we’re mighty in making an impact.
The Impact of Sustainable Name Badges – Why Your Choice Matters
Every event leaves a footprint, but it’s up to us to decide how big or small. Think about the sheer number of name tags, lanyards & accessories that conferences & meetings churn through each year. By choosing biodegradable, recyclable name badges, you’re directly reducing that waste stream. Here’s what happens when you choose Terra Tag for your events:
Reducing Event Waste: You’re keeping piles of plastic out of landfills. Terra Tag badges & lanyards will either return to the earth harmlessly or be reused (like when attendees plant their seed paper badges). It’s a tangible reduction in waste that you can see & measure.
Boosting Your Sustainability Cred: Using eco-friendly name tags visibly demonstrates your commitment to sustainability. Attendees notice these details. It shows your brand “walks the walk” on environmental responsibility, which can enhance your reputation with clients, partners & employees alike. It’s one of those small choices that speaks volumes about your values.
Inspiring Others: When you use innovative products like ours, you spark conversations. Attendees might take their badge back to the office & tell colleagues, or post about it on social media (“I got to plant my conference badge, how cool!”). You’re helping to spread awareness & normalise green practices in events.
Contributing to a Larger Movement: The cumulative effect of sustainable choices grows over time. Today it might be badges & lanyards; tomorrow maybe all the conference signage is recycled & catering goes plastic-free. By taking a step with Terra Tag, you’re joining a community of forward-thinkers pushing the events industry toward a greener future. Every Terra Tag user makes the movement a little stronger.
And let’s not overlook the immediate practical benefits: less post-event cleanup, no more stressing about ordering separate badge components & happy attendees who appreciate the thoughtfulness. We’ve heard from clients that Terra Tags actually make the logistics of event badges easier on top of all the eco perks.
Meet the Terra Tag Team (The Eco-Geeks Behind the Scenes)
Terra Tag is a small, family-run operation with big dreams. We’re a tight-knit team, but we’re mighty. It means when you work with us, you get personal, attentive service. We celebrate every order (there may have been happy dances in the studio when our first big client came on board!). We’re truly invested in the success of your event & your experience with our product.
Lachlan Sweet
The original inspiration for Terra Tag & our resident social media, AI genius & tech expert. Drives production & new ideas between school assignments.
Ben Sweet
Customer happiness guru & Terra Tag’s biggest fan. With 25 years in customer experience, he ensures every order is smooth, seamless & stress-free.
Rhonda Sweet
Master papermaker & the person who somehow keeps everything running smoothly. 30 years of global management consulting & design expertise.
Fun tidbit: Every Terra Tag team meeting starts with us sharing one “win” we had that week – it keeps us motivated & positive. Last week’s was a client email saying how a leading government agency loved the plantable badges so much, that all future events will only use Terra Tags. That made our day!
Getting an Instant Quote & Making the Switch
Ready to join the Terra Tag tribe & make your events greener? We’ve made it super easy to get started:
Instant Online Quotes: Use our website’s shop to configure your order (choose badge type, quantity, etc.). You’ll see pricing immediately & you can adjust options to fit your budget. No waiting days for a sales proposal – though we’re always here if you want a custom discussion.
Fast Turnaround: We know event timelines can be tight. Because we produce in-house here in Australia, we can accommodate quick turnarounds (& yes, even the occasional “help, my event is next week!” scenario). We typically dispatch orders within 5–10 business days for medium runs & we offer express production for urgent needs.
Shipping Australia-Wide: From our studio in Queensland, we ship to all corners of Australia. We carefully package your badges (already sorted & alphabetised if you provided the list) so that when they arrive, you’re essentially event-ready. Unbox & you’re good to go. Tracking is provided & we personally keep an eye on every shipment until it’s safely in your hands.
Support at Every Step: Not sure what you need or have a special request? Just reach out. We’re a friendly bunch & love brainstorming sustainable solutions. Whether you need 50 badges or 5,000, or you want to explore a totally custom project, we’re here for it.
Email us – You’ll hear back quickly (remember, we’re glued to our email as much as we are to the papermaking vat!). We genuinely can’t wait to help you create an event experience that’s more eco-friendly, creative & fun.
At Terra Tag, we believe every small action – like choosing a better name badge – is a step towards a more sustainable world. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us & for considering making your events part of the solution. Together, let’s turn the page on wasteful events & start a new chapter where innovation & sustainability go hand in hand.
On behalf of our whole family & team: thanks for supporting our little big idea. We promise to keep pushing boundaries & greening up events, one Terra Tag at a time! 💚
(P.S. Want to see Terra Tag in action? Check out our Visuals page for photos.