Indian graphic designer Anika Rao has reimagined traditional mail systems through "Paper Trails," a zero-waste letterpress project for India Post. The initiative transforms postal stamps into biodegradable seed paper, allowing recipients to plant them and grow native wildflowers. Rao's design incorporates traditional Mughal motifs with modern minimalism, using soy-based inks that decompose within six months.

The project includes interactive maps printed on envelopes, guiding users to water stations for planted seeds. Rao collaborated with botanists to ensure all flora species are drought-resistant and support local pollinators. "This isn't just mail—it's a living archive of human connection," Rao explained. The campaign has revived interest in letter-writing, with over 2 million seed papers distributed during monsoon season.

India Post plans to expand the system nationwide, while Rao's methodology has been adopted by Norway's postal service for Arctic expedition memorabilia. The project recently won the Design for Social Good Award at Milan Design Week.