Once upon a time, paper was simple. It came from trees, and mostly went into books, notebooks, or the office printer. Today, it’s a far more varied story – one that includes algae, hemp, sugarcane, straw, even stone.
Algae-based papers are already cleaning up the mess we’ve made. Shiro Alga Paper, for instance, is made with algae that threaten fragile ecosystems, like the Venice lagoon. Combined with FSC®-certified pulp and carbon-offset production, it turns an environmental problem into a beautiful packaging solution.
Then there’s hemp, one of the oldest known paper sources, fast-growing and rich in fibre. Or agricultural residue: the stalks left behind after wheat or corn harvests, often burned as waste, now reimagined as raw material. Sugarcane bagasse, the by-product of sugar production, is also finding its way into notebooks and packaging. And stone paper, made from limestone dust, makes an excellent tear-resistant surface for field notes – or hiking maps likely to get caught in a drizzle.
What’s clear is that paper is evolving, not disappearing. Yet not all innovation requires a new material – sometimes, innovation is about doing the old things well. Traditional paper, too, is getting smarter. Chlorine- and acid-free production, FSC® certification, and regional sourcing all bring familiar formats – like A5 or passport-sized notebooks – into more sustainable territory. When well made, quality paper is more than just a surface for writing on.
In the end, it’s not a competition between old and new. As materials shift, the point remains: great paper still matters. And whether it’s traditional or trailblazing, the best paper is always an invitation to write, reflect, and remember. A tool for organizing thought, not just displaying it. That’s what makes it enduring – and endlessly adaptable.
Because even in a world of wireless everything, there’s still something uniquely grounding about putting pen to paper. Whether that paper comes from a tree, a tide pool, or a quarry is just part of the story.