These days it seems everybody has some sort of recycled/eco friendly paper offering. So what’s the big deal about a Swedish offering making its US debut on Earth Day this year?

White Lines factory reuses their carbon emissions in a closed loop, making for zero CO2 emissions, for one. Then they offset what they can’t reuse (transportation, etc) via planting trees in Africa, as coordinated by environmental consultancy U&W (interestingly pronounced “You & We” in Swedish) The wood used for the paper comes from locally sourced, sustainably managed forests, and woodchip waste from sawmills. And every package tells you the precise carbon footprint, the materials traced back to the source.

And then it gets interesting.

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The paper uses white lines rather then black or blue. And? And that means less visual competition between pen/pencil strokes on the line. This does two things: When copying or faxing, the white lines disappear, so you can draw using grid paper as a guide, then when others see it, all there is is your drawing. For those learning to write, the focus is squarely on the writing, without the distraction of other lines.

For those that want to be thorough in their commitment to sustainable choices as a business, this would seem to be an excellent choice. Going paperless is an admirable goal, but as it stands, there’s still a need for paper use. Why not do it with paper of this caliber?

Update: I’ve now been told it’s available domestically in the US today, through Amazon. Official launch is Earth Day, but they’re quietly available now. I’m getting some myself, actually.

Readers: What other everyday things in your work do you see value in changing, and what are you doing/using to change it? Comment below please.

