When looking for ecological or sustainable papers, we find several materials that are used to create paper. Those include plants like olives, algae, agave and bamboo, among others. The percentage of the plant used to create the paper, usually ranging from 10% to 30%, is not always clear, leaving the rest of the content to be recycled paper or virgin pulp. 

While researching Europe, we discovered that most ecological paper is produced in Italy or Germany. However, these are small collections within a broader range of products primarily using tree pulp. Sugar cane paper originates from Colombia or Argentina and is imported into Europe. Stone paper is mainly produced in Taiwan and Germany and exported worldwide. The locations of these sources make the paper a complex source since it usually needs to travel worldwide, reducing its positive footprint.

We chose SUGAR CANE paper for our notebooks, made from 100% rapidly growing plants and free of tree pulp. It has a smooth quality, works well with inks and paint markers, and comes in various grammages from 75g to 295g. The second-best option was recycled cotton, available only in higher grammages of 300g, making it ideal for covers. However we found a German paper that combines sugar cane and recycled cotton, resulting in a thicker, textured, and durable cover material.