August 18, 2021
A vegan notebook. Sounds great doesn’t it? But what exactly makes a notebook “vegan” and why should you buy them for your business? Let us tell you all you need to know.
Here comes the obvious…(wait for it)…there will be no leather cover.
Sometimes you’ve just got to state the obvious! The cover of a vegan notebook won’t be made from animal hide but from other man-made materials, such as card, papers, cloths, linens or PU. You might even be familiar with the term “vegan leather”; this is an imitation leather derived from man-made or plant resources, and it allows you to enjoy the visual and tactile experience that leather creates without the presence of any animal products.
Do be aware though that being vegan doesn’t necessarily mean the product is top of the environmentally friendly list. When looking for a vegan cover, it’s important to choose wisely, as some man-made materials contain a lot of plastic and use lots of chemicals, water and energy to fabricate. If you’re looking for an ethical product then you might want to stick to easily recyclable materials such as paper, or opt for one of the newer eco inventive products, such as the PET-r notebook, with covers made from recycled plastic bottles.
It’s not just about the cover though. Inside the notebook there are components you might never have thought about that may also contain animal products. The glue makes up a vital element of the notebook by securing the end papers to the covers and strengthening the book block along the spine. Vegan notebooks will use glue with plant derivatives and natural resins (rather than gelatine), making the adhesive totally animal free.
Other times, the difference between a vegan and non-vegan notebook lies in what’s printed onto the paper. Inks can contain a wide range of animal products, from the gelatine that creates glycerin, to beetle shellac that can give ink its distinctive colour. For ink to be vegan, these must be derived from either plant based or man-made origins.
So, there you have it, when it comes to what makes a notebook vegan, there’s far more to it than meets the eye!
Guess what? Opting for a vegan notebook doesn’t mean that style or quality is compromised.
Just because vegan notebooks can’t use all materials available on the market, this doesn’t mean that they can’t match the quality, functionality or stylish looks you might come to expect. The reality is, these days we have the resources and materials to ensure that vegan products can equal their non-vegan competitors. Vegan inks and glues have been tried and tested for years now, and the likelihood is that you own something containing them and are none the wiser of its vegan status.
With such a strong consumer demand for environmentally conscious solutions, material production has really advanced in the past few years too. There’s recycled cottons and papers – even banana leaf covers! Some of these materials really are quite impressive – hugely tactile and stylish looking.
The covers of these PET-r vegan notebooks are made from recycled plastic bottles, yet they look as good and are as tactile as leather.
You can help save the planet…one vegan notebook at a time.
According to a published study in Science Mag, the production of meat and dairy make up 60% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions; hence the big push to get us all to limit the amount of animal products we consume. Now, we know that going vegan is not quite the same as buying vegan notebooks for your office, but it’s the little changes that add up to make a big difference.
Perhaps you’re a vegan company and you’re looking for a branded notebook that truly aligns itself with your values, or maybe members of your team or your clients are vegan and you want to supply them with a notebook that they would happily use. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking to get a vegan notebook branded, why not consider one from our range of notebooks? We have a variety of vegan options, from our own simple Kraft card cover notebooks made in the UK, through to the Swatch custom coloured collection, which allows you to pick your choice of elastic closure and cover colour, and is suitable for all branding techniques.
But that’s only half of it! Go have a look at all of them tagged “vegan” here.
If you’re looking for more advice about vegan notebooks or sustainable product choices why not call us on +44 (0)1303 720700 to speak to one of our notebook experts today?
Vegan notebooks are suitable for a variety of branding options. All of the above are vegan branded notebooks.
