The idea of Re/block ist simple: The innovative company founder Tali Tormoche, Johannes Fruehmann and Christian Ursnik save slips of paper from the trash and bring them together to new notepads. The result is a Re/block, a 100 % upcycling notepad.
The aim of Re/block
Re/block would like to create a new ecological awareness of paper. Even in the digital age, the least completely eliminate paper. Be it to make a quick note during a call or to control processes, such as in agencies. Making a virtue out of necessity, the production of ReBlocks leads at least one additional usage loop, which is used worldwide, knows no boundaries and is completed made by hand. Reuse instead of recycling – upcycling of waste rather than energy-intensive recycling.
Each sheet gets a second chance
You can always look at things from two sides and a glass is either half full or half empty. So it is with printed paper. For Re/block single-sided printed sheets are always half full, even if they are half empty. Isn't that wonderful? B-sides get famous and get a second chance.
Environmentally conscious people use the back like for notes, to avoid waste. But who likes to drag loose sheets of paper? With Re/block the notepad is mobile. Some recycled sheets even escape from the recycling bin, as they are stored and not thrown away. In future every sheet of paper should have this opportunity; the chance of a life after printing – welcome to the world of Re/block!
A Re/block is, as the name implies in German sense, first a notepad and secondly an upcycling product. The special feature: for this notepad not recycled paper was reused with high energy costs, but reused used paper (almost) without detours. In between are just collecting and binding. The Re/block is innovative and simple.
Re/block and social commitment
The binding of the sheets is done by Alpha Nova in its workshops for people with disabilities (sheltered workshops). Alpha Nova looks after people with learning disability and takes such mandates gladly. For Re/block this cooperation is a further contribution in the sense of social responsibility. A meaningful value chain!
The "raw material" for the Re/block arises anywhere where is printed. In the vicinity of printing equipment a collection box is set. Misprints and excess prints that are only printed on one side are placed in this box. Preferably in the same cartons in which new printing paper was delivered. When the box is full, it goes to Alpha Nova. There the ReBlocks are bound. The covers are made of recycled cardboard, so-called spoilages from printers – in many varieties, with unlimited possibilities.
The Re/block team is currently collecting onesided printed paper in private initiatives. Professional collecting large quantities is imminent, but not yet implemented. One of the "main supplier" is a school. Here 6 cartons of 2500 sheets were collected within two months. The potential is huge, thus. The next steps will be actively reaching out to companies and schools and to encourage them to collect and to find buyers for the blocks.
The upcycling notepads are in DIN A4 format classically glued and skimming upwards and a A6 booklet sewn vertically. And all other formats are also bound, depending on the paper stock.
So who would like to make its notes and sketches in future - whether for business or private - on an upcycling notepad, find Re/block – probably the most environmentally friendly notepad in the world – on Greenpicks. Because we also love paper!