Are you the type who swears New Years’ Resolutions? With the shiny new markers, aesthetic stickers, and a brand-new planner? Ready to make 2025 your year.
And one of your goals this year is to be eco-friendlier and more ethical.
Bestie, you have come to the right place.
While I am no planner girlie, my best friend Shubhr Aakriti with her realistically planning for ’24 blog is. Couple her planning skills with my realistic approach to sustainability and you have the perfect combo to help you on your eco-friendly planner journey.
Ready to get started?
Well, then. Grab your clicky pen, open a fresh page, and start taking notes.
Look for Tree-Free and Bleach-Free Paper
If you are using a paperback planner, then one of the easiest swaps you can make is to opt for tree-free paper.
Upcycled, recycled, reused, the options for paper are endless.
While recycled and upcycled planners can be a little pricier, if you can shell out that lil extra for the planet, it would be great.
But if you must use or prefer virgin paper, go for FSC certified paper, even if FSC standards are dropping with IKEA and wood. But let’s stick to paper. You can also try and check if your paper is produced from leftover wood shavings.
Otherwise, do what I have done and tear out unused pages from old notebooks and get them stitched to make a new planner. Now, if you enjoy using dated planners, then I know you cannot reuse the ones from previous years otherwise the above? Very susty option.
In such dated cases, you can approach your local print shop and ask if they can give you paper that is left over from printing. But even that requires designing your planner and maybe you just aren’t into that…well, bestie, just get the virgin paper planner.
After all, sustainability is all about keeping resources in circulation and buying items that add value to your value. If a planner does that, go grab it girl!
Want my recommendations for sustainable planner companies still?
Companies for tree-free paper
For upcycled paper you can look at BlueCat Papers and ReScript carries recycled paper notebooks. We at Muses_Saga, have a mental health planner and for those of you whose New Years’ Resolution is to go low-waste, we are planning a planner which will help you budget your way into the green lifestyle.
But just ensuring your paper is tree-free isn’t enough.
Many paper manufacturers use bleach to give paper its signature white colour and some people suggest we should avoid that. Again, sustainable companies possibly already have unbleached paper, which since it’s treated less, has a lower-impact.
But is paper the only thing that makes a planner?
Nyet, my girl, nyet.
There’s the ink on the cover and the inside, the binding, the ink you use to write with, the stickers and aesthetic materials you use, and finally what happens when that planner is filled up. On and see if you prefer laminated planner, I don’t because plastic, but honestly I also know that’s extreme. If it helps protect the planner better and keep it in use longer, it’s good. But it ain’t necessary and books can be protected without it, so I avoid it.
But since there’s more, once more, unto the breach it is.
What Ink to Use When Trying to Plan Your 2024 in an Eco-friendly Manner
The thing about ink stains? They last. Even sustainable ones. Especially sustainable ones.
Alright, jokes aside, the thing about realistically eco-friendly and ethical ink lies in the pens we use in my opinion. Trashysisters recommend fountain pens because they are reusable. Another option is upcycled newspaper pens and pencils, or even seed paper pens and pencils.
These do not have plastic bodies, which reduces their impact. While the refill inside might be plastic, those can be switched instead having to throw away the entire pen. If you must use disposable plastic pens, try getting new refills instead of whole ass new pens. And do try your best to send them for recycling and upcycling. Those aren’t perfect solutions but they are better than nothing.
But those are pens, Anjali.
What about ink?
Well, I don’t know how to make ink on your own and who even realistically has the time for that? What I do recommend is supporting local shops when you buy refillable ink. Try looking for ethical stationary stores or sustainable stores.
But the story doesn’t end when you dot your I.
For realistically sustainable paperback planners might also use stickers and other aesthetic items. Just source them second-hand or locally and you are good. While sticky notes are technically plastic, some sustainable stores might carry alternatives. Or you can make your own using glue and thin upcycled paper, but those likely won’t be see through. Does anyone feel we should try old butter paper or is that just me?
Experimental thoughts aside, do try and reduce unnecessary journaling items but remember, if it gives your life value and keeps you sane, it’s important.
Now, onto the last item I wish to talk about, because we really don’t need to focus on trying to see if the binding is upcycled cotton if we are buying from sustainable stores. That’s a small detail and not worth obsessing over.
So, Anjali, what is the last thing?
Disposing Your Paperback Planner Sustainably
Whether it’s your old 2023 planner or what you will have at the end of the year, if it doesn’t have valuable notes or stories or memories worth sharing, and you wish to be rid of it, send it for recycling. If it has sensitive information, like my therapy diary did, you can shred it. That’s not the most sustainable but I reused the shreds as kindling when I needed a bonfire in winter and it was super cathartic. Not eco-friendly but realistic.
The green option though is supporting your local raddiwalas who will likely send the book to recycling. Or you can contact organizations that recycle paper and send it there. If it has working space left, you can also donate it.
It’s that simple…but I know sometimes we just don’t have the bandwidth.
Like I didn’t to put this article out in time on 1st Jan.
So, let’s respect that we are fallible beings and do the best we can. Whether that means continuing with the unsustainable journal you bought till you need another one or sending the planner you need to dispose to recycling a week later than when it finished, it’s always alright.
Have you started planning for 2024 yet or is the year already kicking your ass in the best way like it is for me? The comments are now yours!
Author’s Note: If you found the piece valuable and would like to support my work, do consider, liking, sharing, subscribing to RealisticallySustainableDiaries, or paying what you wish.
Updated- 23/12/24
