As a stationery nerd, something I’m always conscious of is my paper and plastic consumption. Recycled, recyclable, and refillable is the way to go and it can be hard to find a brand which considers just one of these, never mind all three. Enter Coffeenotes™.
I first came across Coffeenotes™ at the London Stationery Show last month. I was immediately drawn to their stylish and functional weekly planners and was seriously impressed with the paper quality; the texture is amazing and I’m all for products which make note-taking and planning more enjoyable. In fact, the weekly planner pad may be the best desk pad I’ve ever come across. It’s so hard to find something which has space for each day plus a checklist and an area for doodles. And I can never resist a dot grid.
I got to talking to their Marketing Manager, Chess Brasington, about the pad and sustainable stationery more generally. I had no idea that traditionally spiral bound notebooks weren’t recyclable and wondered what else eco-conscious stationery nerds might not be aware of. Fortunately Chess was more than happy to educate me and we’ve teamed up to help you make more eco-friendly purchases next time you’re stationery shopping.
The brand’s signature writing paper is made from upcycled coffee cups and waste from the coffee industry. They worked closely with the UK’s best papermaker, James Cropper, based in Cumbria, to craft the stylish paper using their pioneering CupCycling™ process – the world’s first recycling scheme dedicated to upcycling coffee cups.
2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year in the UK, and the polyethylene coating means they are only recyclable through dedicated specialist facilities. The CupCycling™ scheme has recycled 120 million cups to date (source). Just think of all that guilt-free paper use!
I don’t know about you but when I sit down for a journaling or hand lettering session, I’ve always got a steaming cup of coffee on my desk. There’s something about that act of self-care and mindful moment coming together to create a genuine experience. And that’s one of the things that I love most about Coffeenotes™. Inspired by the sense of joy, warmth and purpose we feel when we sit down with a cup of coffee, the thoughtful, high-quality products are there to be your trusted companion, for everyday use.
So, Chess, how did the idea for Coffeenotes™ come about?
Our founders, Sarah and Mark, run a print and paper business, established in 1991. Passionate about sustainability, and making and using stationery, they came across the pioneering circular design process Cupcyling™ which upcycles coffee cups and turns them into paper … and the rest is history! We worked closely with the UK’s best paper maker to craft a stylish yet robust paper from the waste which remains our signature writing paper to this day.
Initially, we had success with a small range of promotional notebooks for businesses; but quickly realised we could use our unique expertise and experience to offer something new to stationery lovers. We wanted to offer people genuinely sustainable stationery which celebrates creative repurposed and recycled papers … and so Coffeenotes™ was born.
When you’re creating a sustainable product, how much time is spent on research? Did you learn a lot?
It’s certainly not a simple or quick process! There are lots of factors to evaluate when you’re trying to create a sustainable product. From the energy used in the manufacturing and printing processes; to the credentials of materials and suppliers; and the sustainable product lifecycle (managing every stage of the product so as to minimise waste). Moreover, thinking around Sustainability is constantly evolving.
But, we’re lucky to have 30 years’ experience of the paper and print industry. It gives us a strong platform from which we can control the complete purchasing and production process. Ultimately we’re committed to making conscious choices that minimise our footprint at every stage, so the end product is genuinely sustainable.
Personally, the biggest learning curve was understanding the relative impacts each element of a stationery product has on the environment. Inks and glues are an ongoing issue in the stationery world, and there’s no clear solution yet. For example, vegetable oil-based inks are considered more environmentally friendly than traditional petroleum oil-based inks for obvious reasons, but, interestingly, they often require more energy use than modern hybrid inks, and produce more waste depending on the printing process you use.
What’s your favourite product? Mine is the epic weekly planner!
Amazing, glad you like them! We’re really happy they seemed to be a hit at the London Stationery Show – especially the refillable A3 size. I’m a compulsive doodler so I appreciate the minimalist layout, and reverse side which features a dotted grid – plenty of space for ideas and drawing. I also love any product from our Tailor’s Collection. Each of our collections celebrate specific repurposed or recycled waste, and this collection showcases paper covers made in part from waste from the fashion and textile industries. The wool flecks and tweed patterns against rich, elegant colours are really striking.
When we spoke at the Stationery Show you mentioned recycling your spiral bound notebooks. How were these made and how can they be recycled?
All of our products are intentionally designed to be reused, refilled, recycled or composted after use. Did you know that the majority of wire used in stationery has a plastic coating on it, so it’s not recyclable? We were able to source a steel wire with a tin coating from Europe instead of the standard nylon coated ones (they’re mostly from East Asia too, so there’s the added issue of a significant carbon footprint). By removing the plastic element, it means the whole notebook can be recycled at home, or at your local recycling point. Or, if composting is more your thing, you can easily separate the wire from the pages.
Some pen and paper addicts feel guilty about their consumption. What might they think they can recycle which they can’t and what product specifications should they be looking out for when buying new products?
I completely get that. For anyone who is eco-conscious, there’s always a balancing act, or trade-off, between wanting to reduce your consumption, with what’s practical. Using stationery is a meaningful experience for many of us, so for me, it’s about choosing to buy from brands that are committed to, and transparent about their approach to, sustainability. With Coffeenotes™ we hope that in being open about our decisions we can empower customers with the information required to choose items that suit their own unique approach to sustainable living. More generally, I’d look for stationery that has sustainability and circular innovation built into the heart of their designs – not just as an afterthought or token gesture.
Another thing that reassures me is that the British environmentalist Jonathon Porritt says the paper industry is one of few industries that can aspire to be genuinely sustainable. If you think about it, it has an inherently renewable raw material, European forests are sustainably managed under FSC guidelines, and the end products are circular. If you’re interested there’s more information from the organisation Two Sides you can check out.
Coffeenotes™ are exhibiting at Top Drawer in January 2022. For stockist and press enquiries, please contact info@coffeenotes.info. Website launching early 2022!
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