Our lives are filled with everyday items that are not the greatest for the environment. Whether that’s smartphones or household cleaning products or even our spiral-bound diaries, many things we use contribute to waste and we may not even realise it. With 2022 upon us, why not start the year off with a responsibly made planner?
If you’re in the market for one, consider a planner that’s free of non-recyclable elements like plastic tabs or plastic pockets. Where possible, try to opt for one that comes in biodegradable materials and packaging (or none at all!). To make the search easier, we sourced eight eco-friendly planners that aim to be as sustainable as possible:
Karst Weekly Desk Pad A4
Elegant in form and function, Karst planners are not just beautiful to look at. When you learn that their paper is made from 100% sustainably recycled stone, free of any bleaches or acids, they’re even more amazing to behold!
Their entire line of planners, from traditional planners to the Weekly Desk Pad, are made with their trademarked Karst Stone Paper: a tree-free paper that is more durable and smoother than regular paper. The paper is tear-resistant and waterproof, too.
And because these planners don’t rely on trees, Karst is reducing energy that would have gone to cutting, transporting and pulping trees, and thousands of gallons of water usage as well. Karst also uses carbon offset delivery services for every order! We love that they have an array of “purposefully built” planning and productivity tools, to satisfy all your planning needs.
Learn more about Karst
Ponderlily Undated Weekly Planner 2022
It’s always nice to see a product that’s as chic as it is thoughtful. Ponderlily’s stately paper products have made a name for themselves with stylishly designed stationery, which is all the more satisfying when you see their efforts to lessen their environmental impact.
All Ponderlily products are printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks that meet REACH compliance, meaning it’s not produced with any chemicals that are dangerous to humans. Ponderlily also seeks to maintain sustainable production, thoughtful logistics and locally sourced materials whenever possible, opting for things like minimal packaging and biodegradable packing peanuts and tape.
The Ponderlily Undated Weekly Planner lets you start your planner whenever is best for you, and provides flexibility to begin your weekly plans however suits you best, whether that’s Sunday or Monday. We also appreciate the ample space for things such as business cards, a pocket for important papers and blank pages for letting our imagination flow.
Learn more about Ponderlily
A Good Company A5 Stone Paper Bullet Journal
There’s a reason why this journal has almost 400 five-star reviews! Sweden-based A Good Company sets out to provide “elegant, thoughtful and sustainable everyday products”, and ensures each one is sustainably made from start to finish – this means using materials that have the least environmental impact, sourcing from suppliers who share the same values, choosing the least impactful logistical option and never using harmful chemicals.
That’s why there’s a lot to like about their A5 Stone Paper Bullet Journal. Made with stone paper, their journal utilises leftover stone from local industries to create a highly durable, silky-smooth paper that requires zero water to manufacture. These notebooks are also unique in that they are bound by a distinguished Polish bookbinder who only uses traditional techniques, taking pains to inspect each book three times before approving it – no shortcuts taken.
When it comes to transparency, A Good Company transparently provides exactly how the notebooks are transported to their warehouse, which climate issues the product addresses, and which environmental certificates this product fulfils. We love a company that lives up to their name!
Learn more about A Good Company
Tangible Stationery 2022 Diary from FORBES
Whether for yourself or a loved one, keep plans fashionably organised with a classic-style, handmade diary. We’re fans of all the ways you can personalise this Tangible Stationery diary from Etsy, from the soft touch cover to the format (weekly or daily) to the name embossing.
Etsy will also offset carbon emissions from shipping and packaging when you purchase this diary and perhaps our most favourite aspect of this appointment book is that it’s made with help from Wai Man Book Binding, right here in Hong Kong.
Learn more about Tangible Stationery
Dingbats Earth Sky Blue Great Barrier Reef Journal
For Dingbats, a future in which humans live in harmony with nature is now and they’re trying to carry out that ethos in everything they do. If this is a key criteria for your next planner, the Earth Sky Blue Great Barrier Reef Journal may be just the thing. With the soft dotted pages, you can outline your own planner to your liking.
As the oldest established paper company in Lebanon and the region, Dingbats is careful to use only acid-free, degradable, recyclable and Forest Steward Council (FSC) certified paper. The FSC label guarantees that any trees harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally. Added to this, all materials used to make each journal are bio safe (even their vegan leather covers) manufactured in green factories where water and air emissions are strictly controlled.
Even their shrink wrap, which protects each book during transit, is made of sugarcane ethanol and is 100% recyclable in most countries – and even this isn’t good enough for Dingbats, who are actively looking to make their packaging 100% natural!
Learn more about Dingbats
Immediate Digital Download: Green Dreamer Undated Planner (PDF)
Cut down the carbon footprint of your planner and print yours locally instead! Green Dreamer began as a podcast to explore “collective healing, biocultural revitalisation, and true abundance and wellness for all”, and has now branched out into producing its popular Green Dreamer planners, made and bound with recycled paper, and covered with 100% recycled cotton.
Now you can make your own (and avoid shipping costs) with the Immediate Digital Download option: an undated planner that contains all the same goodies that made the original Green Dreamer so popular. Along with undated monthly and weekly spreads for your personal planning, the planner includes weekly action steps you can take toward greater holistic wellbeing, inspiration quotes by notable change-makers, short and long-term planning guides and prompts, and weekly affirmations and reflections to help you stay grounded. With so many expert print shops in Hong Kong, this could be an exciting and truly sustainable way to get your next planner!
Learn more about Green Dreamer
THE ERICA Book or Planner by Sasha Kretova
Working from her humble home studio in Helsinki, illustrator Sasha Kretova creates beautiful illustrations and functional items and accessories for the aesthetically minded. Her hand-bound planners like THE ERICA are made with 100% cotton binding thread, consist of 100% recycled paper sourced locally in Europe and come in a variety of options, depending on how you plan to use your book. Choose from blank, lined, dotted, grid or an open weekly planner, and large or small format.
The satisfying medium heavy paper is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper that’s also FSC and low carbon emission certified. We have a hunch it’ll be hard to browse her shop without picking up some cute earrings, pins and postcards, all made from sustainably sourced wood and cardboard.
Learn more about Sasha Kretova
Time to Shine Foiled 2022 Diary by Papier
Treat yourself to a gorgeous hardcover diary by famed British stationery brand, Papier, who has been producing sought-after stationery from planners and journals to cards and recipe books since 2015. Collaborating with a host of designers from around the globe, it’s easy to see why their diverse collection of designs have such mass appeal. We’re digging the soft muted colours and glowy vibe of the Time To Shine Diary – it’s the perfect accessory for a clean desk, clear mind and fresh start.
And you can feel good about your Papier planner knowing the brand invests conscious efforts to lessen their footprint. All products are made-to-order to keep stock minimal and returns minimal, meaning fewer emissions from upkeeping large warehouses. Their paper is sustainable sourced from the FSC, and all of their products are wrapped in simple yet lovely paper packaging that you can recycle at home.
Learn more about Papier
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