Botanist Invents Plantable Cards That Carry Scents of Greece

Greek agronomist and botanist, Giannis Elenitsas, has created an unusual souvenir that connects the island of Rhodes’ natural aromas with environmental awareness and Greek hospitality.

Called “mnimi”, the concept centres on a specially designed folding card containing a handmade piece of plantable paper. The paper contains seeds from aromatic plants and herbs associated with Rhodes and the wider Greek flora, many of which have long featured in Greek cuisine and the Mediterranean diet.

Elenitsas said the idea began with a desire to create a souvenir that goes beyond the usual object people buy or receive during a holiday and then forget.

“We wanted to create a gift that a business can offer its customers but that has a different character. A souvenir connected to the place, nature and the experiences someone gains when visiting Rhodes,” he explained.

A key element of the project involves reusing paper waste from businesses. Through a specialised process, businesses can transform discarded paper materials into plantable paper and incorporate seeds into it.

The process gives material that might otherwise become waste a new life. The recipient can plant the paper by following specific instructions and then watch the seeds germinate.

“The idea is to use something that already exists and create something new from it. At the same time, through the aromatic plants and herbs, people can take a small piece of the scents of Rhodes with them,” Elenitsas said.

Turning scent into memory

The choice of aromatic plants plays an important role in the concept. The plants connect with Greek gastronomy, the Mediterranean diet and tradition, with many having featured in Greek life for centuries.

For Elenitsas, a visitor’s connection with a destination extends beyond photographs and objects purchased during a holiday. Scents and aromas can act as powerful triggers of memory, bringing experiences back even years later.

That idea inspired the name “mnimi”, meaning “memory”.

“The aim is for the souvenir to continue to exist after the holiday ends. If someone returns to their home country, plants the paper and an aromatic plant grows from it, a different relationship develops with the gift,” he said.

“An aroma can remind them of Rhodes, the days they spent here, a meal or a beautiful moment.”

The concept primarily targets businesses that want to offer customers a distinctive souvenir, although it does not focus exclusively on tourism. Hotels, restaurants and other businesses could use the cards to connect visitors with local nature and tradition.

Sustainability meets Greek hospitality

The reuse of paper also gives the project a clear environmental dimension.

Elenitsas believes environmental awareness does not have to rely solely on major initiatives and can instead become part of everyday practices.

“Sustainability, environmental responsibility and social awareness should not remain theoretical concepts. They can even become part of a small gift, as long as there is a specific idea behind it,” he said.

The card also incorporates a digital element through a QR code on the back, which businesses can customise.

A restaurant, for example, can use the code to direct customers to its menu, while a tourism business can link to its website, social media pages or travel and review platforms.

The QR code also provides information about Rhodes’ aromatic plants and herbs, including their properties, their use in ancient Greece and their continuing role in Greek cuisine.

Recipients can also access instructions explaining how to plant the paper correctly and care for the seeds.

The combination of the physical and digital elements gives the souvenir several functions, allowing it to serve as a gift, an information resource and a continuing link between the visitor and Rhodes.

Greek hospitality also forms a central part of the project’s philosophy.

“The tradition of Greek hospitality has always been connected with giving. ‘Mnimi’ tries to bring that idea into the modern era while combining it with the need for greater respect for the environment,” Elenitsas said.

The ultimate goal is to give the plantable paper a life beyond the moment when someone receives it.

“We would like ‘mnimi’ to literally take root and flourish. The souvenir can become a plant and continue over time to bring images and aromas of Rhodes to its recipient. That is perhaps the most meaningful part of the idea,” Elenitsas said.

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