A school day with less plastic? Is that even possible? When Sylvia Manhart founded her own company, minouki , in 2016, she wanted to bring more environmental awareness into classrooms with school notebook covers made from recycled paper that are not only more sustainable and attractive than conventional plastic covers. She revealed to us in an interview how she came up with this idea and why a change of mindset is so important, especially in schools.
For several years now, our family has been trying to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible. Part of this effort involves consuming less plastic. Sometimes that's very easy. And sometimes quite difficult. Especially when you can't find any alternatives for certain plastic products in stores.
The idea of producing school notebook covers from recycled paper came about when, at the end of the summer holidays, I was struggling with a school supply list which stated that I should buy a lot of colored plastic notebook covers for various school subjects for my children.
Because I found the plastic notebook covers rather drab and couldn't really find any sturdy paper covers, the idea was born: high-quality paper notebook covers as an environmentally friendly and more attractive alternative. The core idea was to combine the two selling points of environmental protection and design to make it as easy as possible for children and parents to choose the plastic-free option. The children with the "eco-friendly notebooks" should also be the ones with the most beautiful notebooks!
We get a lot of feedback from our customers. They often report that the paper envelopes are surprisingly sturdy and last at least as long as plastic ones. Most use the paper envelope for a year, some even for two. That's comparable to the lifespan of a plastic envelope. We conducted a survey – almost everyone admitted that they usually throw away their plastic envelopes after one school year – after all, you want to start the new year with nice school supplies. So neither lasts forever – the difference being that you can recycle the paper envelope at the end of the school year or even put it on the compost heap. And of course, it always depends on the child. I have a daughter. Her envelopes still look great at the end of the school year. And I have a son... well – to be honest – two years is rather unrealistic for him.
Those who don't put their notebooks and covers directly into their school bags, but instead transport them together in a notebook box, naturally extend their lifespan considerably. We're planning to release these notebook boxes next year – made from recycled cardboard.
My main tip: use recycled paper! Trees have more important and beautiful tasks and shouldn't be cut down for such short-lived products as toilet paper or school notebooks. The consumption of virgin fiber for such products is enormous!
You can find imperfect notebook covers from minouki here .
1. How did your idea to produce school notebook covers from recycled paper come about?
For several years now, our family has been trying to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible. Part of this effort involves consuming less plastic. Sometimes that's very easy. And sometimes quite difficult. Especially when you can't find any alternatives for certain plastic products in stores.
The idea of producing school notebook covers from recycled paper came about when, at the end of the summer holidays, I was struggling with a school supply list which stated that I should buy a lot of colored plastic notebook covers for various school subjects for my children.
Because I found the plastic notebook covers rather drab and couldn't really find any sturdy paper covers, the idea was born: high-quality paper notebook covers as an environmentally friendly and more attractive alternative. The core idea was to combine the two selling points of environmental protection and design to make it as easy as possible for children and parents to choose the plastic-free option. The children with the "eco-friendly notebooks" should also be the ones with the most beautiful notebooks!
2. In what ways is a minouki notebook cover environmentally friendly and sustainable?
Minouki envelopes are made without plastic or virgin fiber paper. They are produced from 100% recycled paper, which has been awarded the Blue Angel ecolabel. We manufacture regionally in an EMAS-certified eco-printing facility that has received numerous awards for its environmental commitment and pioneering economic approach. The printing inks are also eco-friendly. We offset the emissions generated during the printing process through an international climate protection project.3. Do you have any experience regarding how long a notebook cover made of recycled paper lasts compared to one made of plastic, and are there any tips for making the notebook cover last as long as possible?
We get a lot of feedback from our customers. They often report that the paper envelopes are surprisingly sturdy and last at least as long as plastic ones. Most use the paper envelope for a year, some even for two. That's comparable to the lifespan of a plastic envelope. We conducted a survey – almost everyone admitted that they usually throw away their plastic envelopes after one school year – after all, you want to start the new year with nice school supplies. So neither lasts forever – the difference being that you can recycle the paper envelope at the end of the school year or even put it on the compost heap. And of course, it always depends on the child. I have a daughter. Her envelopes still look great at the end of the school year. And I have a son... well – to be honest – two years is rather unrealistic for him.
Those who don't put their notebooks and covers directly into their school bags, but instead transport them together in a notebook box, naturally extend their lifespan considerably. We're planning to release these notebook boxes next year – made from recycled cardboard.
4. Where do you have the notebook covers produced?
We have our school notebook covers produced entirely in Bavaria. Regional production is a core part of our philosophy. There are three production steps – all taking place in the greater Munich area. The printing company is an EMAS-certified eco-printer. It operates according to the principles of the common good economy, which I find particularly positive. We want to minimize transport distances and support a relocalized economic cycle.5. You also offer the notebook covers to schools. How prevalent is the topic of sustainability there? Is a shift in thinking already taking place in schools?
I do think a shift in thinking is taking place in schools. We receive many inquiries from teachers who have specifically searched for plastic-free envelopes and are truly enthusiastic when they discover minouki. However, I fear that this is far from sufficient. Paper envelopes alone are, of course, not enough. We see them more as a gateway – to raise students' awareness of the entire issue of environmental protection. I believe that recycled paper should be mandatory these days. The new generation of recycled paper is absolutely high-quality. No one can tell by looking at our envelopes. But there are still prejudices against recycled paper. For example: that it's "gray" or that "the ink smudges." None of that is true anymore. Not only does no trees need to be cut down; recycled paper is also superior to virgin fiber paper in terms of the use of chemicals, water, and electricity in its production. After all, the German government is demanding that the use of recycled paper in its own agencies be increased to 95%. Perhaps a quota could also be set for the school sector. Stationery stores would be forced to adapt quickly. At our local stationery shop, there isn't a single notebook made from recycled paper. It's no wonder many customers don't give it a second thought or make any special effort to shop elsewhere. And when I see how many students carry a tiny disposable drink with them every break, it makes my head spin – schools should really discuss making reusable water bottles mandatory.6. Do you have any other tips for making everyday school life more sustainable?
My main tip: use recycled paper! Trees have more important and beautiful tasks and shouldn't be cut down for such short-lived products as toilet paper or school notebooks. The consumption of virgin fiber for such products is enormous!
You can find imperfect notebook covers from minouki here .
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