Think about the countless trees felled every year to meet our greedy demand for traditional paper. But what if there was a way to create paper without harming a single tree? That's precisely where the magic of stone paper lies. In an era when our planet calls out for sustainable solutions, it's time to rewrite the story and embrace a revolutionary alternative that's as innovative as it is eco-friendly.
What is stone paper?
Paper made from stone means more trees in the ground, less wasted water and zero chemicals or bleaches entering the environment. It’s made in a solar-powered factory, further reducing its carbon footprint. It’s waterproof and tear-resistant. It’s not perfect as it contains a small amount of plastic, but ours is from recycled plastic bottles, plant waste, and other non-virgin sources.
But, what exactly is stone paper? Let's see the more detailed explanation.
Stone paper is made from calcium carbonate and plastic - the former from limestone or marble mining cast-offs and the latter from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The calcium carbonate is ground into a fine powder and mixed with a small amount of HDPE in an 80/20 mix. Agood company does not use virgin HDPE, it's all from recycled sources.
How eco-friendly is stone paper, really?
There’s no 100% perfect solution for any product. But the stone paper products we sell, although partly made from plastic, are on balance more environmentally friendly than their counterparts made from traditional materials like wood pulp.
For example, on a production basis alone, a stone paper notebook is miles ahead ecologically speaking when you consider no water, acids, bleaches or optical brighteners are used. This means nothing can spoil the water or poison the environment. The process also runs on 100% solar energy.
In terms of raw materials, it's all waste and recycled materials. No deforestation occurs, so forests and woodlands are protected as well as the biodiversity they support.
Sure, there's energy required to transport our stone paper products, but we've got that covered. We take responsibility for the emissions generated during shipping and transportation by climate compensating for them. In simple terms, instead of contributing to deforestation, we're actively planting trees to offset our carbon footprint.
So, while stone paper isn't without its drawbacks, it offers a compelling eco-friendly alternative that helps conserve natural resources and reduce environmental harm.
Is stone paper biodegradable?
No, stone paper is not biodegradable. However, after a year to a year and a half of exposure to the sun, it dissolves into dust. But if there's no sun, there’s no degradation, so if it's in a landfill it's locked there. This is true for tree-based paper as well.
On the other hand, stone paper is recyclable. The materials used to make stone paper can be processed and turned into new stone paper, or they can be recycled along with other HDPE plastics and used for various purposes. In contrast, while a significant amount of tree-based paper is recycled, traditional paper fibers can only be recycled a limited number of times. Each time paper is recycled, the fibers become shorter, so, in general, regular paper can be only recycled 4-6 times.
Does stone paper burn?
Yes, but unlike pulp paper, it doesn’t smolder. Errant sparks may leave a couple of marks but they shouldn't spread. Wash dirty pages with soap and water and any notes should be OK, just make sure you've been working in ballpoint or pencil. Stone paper is also water-resistant, which means it won't easily get damaged or disintegrate when exposed to liquids. This feature makes it a suitable choice for outdoor activities or environments where moisture may be a concern.
What is recycled stone?
We use the “waste bits" and cast-offs from marble quarries that are ground into a fine powder to make the primary ingredient of stone paper. It’s pretty harmless stuff. You probably have some in your house already as a marble cutting board or even as baking soda.
Who came up with stone paper?
Stone paper was first produced in Taiwan in the late 1990s. Since then it has been refined and new uses are found for it every day. Here’s a short BBC video of how a Taiwanese company makes paper from stone.
Stone paper applications
The unique properties of stone paper make it suitable for various applications. It possesses excellent tear resistance, water repellency and durability, allowing it to withstand challenging environments. Some potential applications of stone paper include:
- Printing and packaging: stone paper's smooth surface enables high-quality printing, making it an ideal choice for brochures, magazines, labels, and packaging materials.
- Notebooks and stationery: stone paper's durability and water resistance make it a practical option for notebooks, journals, and other stationery items, ensuring protection of our important notes and cherished memories.
- Art and creative endeavors: artists and illustrators can explore the use of stone paper, as it offers a unique texture and allows for experimentation with various mediums.
- Sustainable labels and tags: stone paper's eco-friendly nature makes it suitable for product labels, tags, and signage, communicating a brand's commitment to sustainability.
Where can stone paper be purchased?
We sell a variety of stone paper stationery products in our marketplace. We have stone paper notebooks, pocket diaries, sketch pads, and even bullet journals made from stone paper:
- Stone paper journals
- A6 stone paper pocket notebooks
- A5 hardcover stone paper notebooks
- A5 softcover stone paper notebooks
We believe that making a difference goes beyond creating sustainable products — it's about improving lives and empowering communities around the world. That's why, with every purchase of our notebooks and journals, you become a part of something bigger. For every notebook or journal sold, we create a ripple of positive impact by donating 500 liters of safe, fresh, and clean water through our partnership with charity: water. Furthermore, our packaging is made from stone paper. We spent years on its development to ensure it’s both functional and sophisticated.
Can you make stone paper airplanes?
Absolutely. And in the unlikely event of a water landing, your stone paper airplane will come out completely unscathed.
In case we missed anything, reach out and contact us.
