The next time you pick up a notebook, pause for a moment. An earthy brown cover, a leaf logo, or the words ‘eco-friendly’ might make it look like the greener choice. But appearances can be deceptive. What you should consider is the paper inside, the materials used to make it, how long it lasts, and whether it can be recycled after use.

For Ashutosh Ananth, co-founder of paper and stationery brand ‘Rescript’, sustainability is about looking beyond appearances and rethinking how everyday paper products are made.

“A notebook being sustainable is about much more than having a kraft cover or looking natural. You have to look at what it is made from, how it is put together, how long it will last, and what happens to it after you are done using it,” he says.

Founded in 2021 by Ashutosh and his school friend Naren Raj, the brand makes copier paper, notebooks, journals, planners, and other stationery using 100 percent recycled paper.

After pursuing ideas such as biofuels in 2019, the friends entered corporate gifting. That experience showed them how much paper businesses consume every day. “We realised that the opportunity was much larger than gifting. If we could make everyday paper products more sustainable, the impact could be greater,” he says.

Recycled paper and notebooks became their starting point, eventually growing into a wider stationery range.

So, what should you look for when buying a notebook? The co-founder shares six things consumers should check before making a choice.

1. Check what the paper is made from

Since paper makes up most of a notebook, its composition is the first thing to examine. Rather than relying on broad descriptions such as ‘eco-friendly’, ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’, he recommends looking for a clear statement of the recycled content.

“A notebook made with 100 percent recycled paper reduces the need for virgin fibre and gives already-used paper another life,” he explains.

The percentage matters. A notebook containing 10 or........

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