I’m changing my planner for 2010. For the past several years I have used Space 24 and loved it. I had a full page to write down everything I needed to do that week for work and home: people to call, dry cleaning reminders, scribbled notes for books to buy, my noon class on Wednesdays, projects to work on, mailings, and all the other memoranda of my life. As usual, I would get done about half of what I planned to do, so I’d erase various notes and distribute them over the next week or two. The paper is strong enough to hold up to lots of erasing.

This year, Quo Vadis introduced Equology – a planner line made with recycled paper. As a former staff member and volunteer with the Sierra Club, and a committed environmentalist, I had a real dilemma on my hands: stay with Space 24 or go over to Equology. 

I hasten to add the Clairefontaine paper used for Space 24 is made with strict environmental standards. The mill manufactures much of its own energy, all the pulp and wood by-products come from FSC and PEFC certified forests — none from old growth forests — and the water is cleaner when it leaves the mill then when it arrives. So clean, in fact, people can fish, swim and boat downstream within sight of the plant. With a background in Sierra Club fights in Alaska over logging practices and pulp mill pollution, that is pretty impressive.

But, recycled paper is recycled paper. I made the decision to give Equology a try for a year.

Then, I couldn’t find a format that would exactly meet my need for a notes page. Continue reading »