"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.
Another year winds down and I'm now already preparing for 2018. Last year, I wrote a post on my search for a good notebook to capture all of my ideas, quotes, notes, etc. I ended up using Ink and Volt for the year, but supplemented it with another notebok. I'm now reviewing the words, ideas and things I wrote and I love that I was able to capture it all.
In my June update on that post, I had mentioned that the Ink and Volt notebook I had was more of a planner so it didn't have a lot of extra space for me to take notes, doodle, etc. I love the fact that it had writing prompts, but I didn't feel it was enough for me. So the roundup for this year focuses more on blank notebooks/journals and less on planners. I've also like the A5 size as it is just easier to fit into my bags. I'm also looking for something thinner. The Ink and Volt as a full year planner had a hardbound cover. While beautiful, it was a beast to carry around. I still wanted to find something that was eco-friendly and easy to dispose of later. I'm also leaning more towards testing out the bullet journals so I'm keen of finding one with a dotted layout instead of a lined layout.
Without further ado and in no particular order, here's the list of eco-friendly planners and notebooks for 2018. I have not selected my final notebook for 2018, but I will update once I decide.
Comment below if you have used any of these or if I missed one, let me know. To get a list of notebooks, journals and planners from 2017, see this post.
This post contains affiliate links. See Disclosures for details.
Lemome Natural Cork Cover Notebook
These I found on Amazon with the cover being made of cork which ultimately makes it easy to disassemble and recycle separately. I like that this has a pen holder, a page marker and an elastic closure strap. While I also am not one to rip pages from a notebook (I have plenty of scrap paper for that), I like that this has perforated scores so it's easier to pull a page if needed.
Lemome Cork Notebook
Binding: Thread-bound lay-flat design
Cover: 100% cruelty free cork material.
Ink: Not specified
Layout: Bullet
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 96 sheets (192 pages)
Paper Type: 120g high quality acid free paper that is easily recyclable
Page Markers: Yes!
Made in: Not specified
Cost: $12.99
Where to Find: Amazon
Muji High Quality Recycled Paper Lined Notebook
These look cute and sleek. I've never bought anything from Muji before although I always stop by each time I am close to one of their stores to look around. These recycled notebooks come in adhesive bound or ring bound. One thing I'm not a fan of is the ring binding. I don't know, maybe because when I was in private school, they never allowed these kinds of notebooks because they would result in a mess, so I am just not too fond of them.
Binding: Adhesive
Cover: not specified
Ink: Not specified
Layout: Lined
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 96 sheets (192 pages)
Paper Type: recycled paper
Page Markers: None
Made in: Japan
Cost: $1.50 for the regular, $7.00 for the high-quality recycled paper
Where to Find: Muji
Guided Recycled Notebooks
I found these via a quick search. They are simple and sleek. These ReWrite notebooks are made of 100% recycled paper with 30% post consumer recycled paper. They are made in America. I like that they are blank and that you have options to select if you want it blank, lined or dotted. The covers comes in either black or brown where you have the option to customize yourself so that's nice.
Guided appears to also be doing a lot in the sustainable, eco-friendly packaging department so it's nice to see a company doing that and creating new solutions to reduce packaging waste. They have lots of responsibly made and source materials too for school or the office.
Specifications
Guided Brown Recycled Notebook
Binding: Perfect binding using flexible adhesive
Cover: 18-point bending chipboard made from 85% post-consumer and 15% post-industrial recycled materials
Ink: Not specificed
Layout: Blank, lined, bullet or graph format
Measurements: various sizes
Number of Pages: 24 sheets (48 pages)
Paper Type: 100% recycled and 30% post consumer recycled fibers
Page Markers: None
Made in: USA
Cost: $4.33 each, minimum 3 notebooks
Where to Find: Guided Online Store
Northbooks Notebook
I contemplated including this notebook in particular. There's no indication that the paper is made of recycled paper, but the cover is. One of the challenges I had when I was using my Moleskines for work was what to do with them after I used one up. I love that they had a durable cover, but they clearly weren't easy to recycle. These ones from Northbooks are made of sturdy paper so could be taken apart and recycled separately potentially.
Northbooks Notebook
Binding: Sewn flat
Cover: 100% post-consumer recycled paper cover is soft enough to remain pliable, but sturdy
Ink: Not specified
Layout: Blank, lined or dot format
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 72 sheets (144 pages)
Paper Type: No indication that they use recycled paper, thought cover is 100% recycled
Page Markers: None
Made in: USA
Cost: $9.99
Where to Find: Amazon or gonorthbooks.com
Public Supply Notebooks
I found these ones while browsing around a Starbucks. These are made of FSC Certified, green e-certified, acid free, 10% post consumer recycled paper. Further research finds that this company is certified BCorp and strives to donate 25% of profits of every sale to a teacher in a high need classroom who will fund a project that drives creativity.
Specifications
Public Supply Notebook
Binding: Looks to be flexible adhesive
Cover: Embossed cover, cover type not specified
Ink: Not specified
Layout: Dot or lined
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 48 sheets (96 pages)
Paper Type: FSC Certified, Green-E Certified , Acid Free, 10% Post Consumer Waste (Recycled Content)
Page Markers: None
Made in: printed in USA (in my home state of NJ) but no indication of paper source
Cost: $16.00 ($12 for non-embossed cover)
Where to Find: Public Supply
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Etsy Shop: Sashakretova
This notebook looks nice and sleek. It's made of medium-heavy 100% recycled paper. The seller indicates that they try to ship as eco-friendly as possible using recycled packaging material. I like the fact that it uses a medium-heavy paper which should be good to prevent bleed through.
Binding: Lay flat, saddle stitch
Cover: not specified
Ink: N/A
Layout: Blank
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 32 sheets (64 pages)
Paper Type: medium-heavy (115gsm) 100% recycled paper
Page Markers: None
Made in: Finland
Cost: $12.81
Etsy Sustainably Sourced Felt Covered Journal with Lokta Paper
This journal looks slight different from all of the rest. It has that rugged look. It's completely handmade both the cover and paper. It uses Lokta paper, something I had never heard of until writing this. Lokta paper is made out of barks of a kind of evergreen tree. For a time, the paper was only use for government and religious texts in Nepal. The paper lasts long apparently as they have found text from 1200 years back. This notebook just looks cool as if you've made it yourself and bound it together.
Etsy Shop: RusticFlitch
Binding: No paper binding, but the whole thing can be tied with leather or tie.
Cover: Sustainably sourced felt
Ink: N/A
Layout: Blank
Measurements: A5
Number of Pages: 48 sheets (96 pages)
Paper Type: Unlined, acid free Lokta paper
Page Markers: None
Made in: ships from UK
Cost: $27.63
Where to Find: Etsy Shop RusticFlitch
Etsy Fair Trade Lokta Journal
This is another journal made out of Lokta paper. The Lokta bark is sustainable harvested so that it can grow back in 5-7 years. These notebooks are made by rural women in Nepal. The binding on these look secure and with the handmade nature, each one will be unique.
Specifications
Etsy Shop: The Himalayan Goddess
Binding: Hand sewn
Cover: Dyed Lokta paper
Ink: N/A
Layout: Blank
Measurement: 6.5 x 8 inches (slightly greater than A5)
Number of Pages: 35 sheets (70 pages)
Paper Type: sustainable harvested Lokta acid free paper
Page Markers: none
Made in: Nepal (ships from US)
Price: $19.99
Where to Find: Etsy Shop: The Himalayan Goddess
One Last Thing
For my 2017 notebooks, I usually keep them for a few years after they are filled up. I rarely reference them, but like that they are there for me to review. It will be a few years before I will recycle and for some of the notebooks, I will just remove the pages and recycle the paper and figure out what to do with the covers later on.
I ended up ordering a 3 pack of the Guided Recycled Notebooks. They just came in the mail and look great. A bit thin, but I think I'm going to be OK with that since it will be easy for me to compartmentalize notes and such and only bring a small notebook at a time. I also created these templates to insert into them. Check it out here and sign-up to get the FREE printable templates emailed to you.
Here's how I'm currently using the notebooks and printables.
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Eco-Friendly Notebooks and Journals
