Dingbats* Notebooks | Product Review and Discount Code
If you’re anything like me, you really love (like, really love) notebooks, and all things stationery-related. But, if we are similar in that regard, we are probably also similar in that we are very selective as to the kind of notebooks we actually prefer to use.
For example, I prefer college-ruled paper over wide-ruled. And, being left-handed, I enjoy spiral-bound notebooks, but that’s less important than it being college-ruled. What are some characteristics that you always look for in your notebooks?
As I have been increasing my environmental awareness over the last year or so, another thing I look for in my stationery items is a certain level of sustainability. If I can find items I really like secondhand, I prefer to purchase them that way.
Buying them new is sometimes necessary, though, and I usually grab something cheap from Target because I can always find something I like there. However, I’m learning that anything we find cheap enough to be a “great deal” usually comes at a cost elsewhere in the production/supply chain. And with notebooks, that cost is usually at the expense of the environment.
So, when I discovered the brand Dingbats*, and found that their environmental values and goals are aligned with my changing priorities, I was eager to order from them. In this post, I’m going to share about Dingbats* with you, walk through some of their business practices, and then give a short review of the notebook I purchased myself followed by a discount code if you decide you’d like to buy one for yourself! 🙂
What is Dingbats*?
Dingbats* is an eco-friendly brand of stationery developed with intentional consideration of materials and design. The notebooks are hand-made and styled with minimal, nature-inspired designs, with sound environmental credentials including the mark of the Forest Stewardship Council. All materials used are degradable, vegan and recyclable.
Dingbats* notebooks can be used as an executive notebook, bullet journal, writing pad/diary, notepad, and sketchbook…they offer options for blank paper, grid/graph, lined, and dotted so you can select a style based on your specific needs.
Their vision involves a future in which humans live in harmony with nature and communities committed to protect wildlife, fresh waters, forests and oceans. And they strive to both promote the green digital age whilst serving and encouraging your craftsmanship and creativity in all its forms; because, while paperless is great, not everyone can utilize it in a way that supports their creative process.
If you are worried about the impact your notebooks have on the environment, Dingbats* is one of the few brands that really care about the preservation of Earth’s nature and wildlife, and strive to incorporate this into all their products. The following information is summarized from their website:
❉ There is no nasty stuff in their notebooks – even the water used to produce the paper is returned to the rivers cleaner than when it was taken out. They use degradable and recyclable materials and only FSC® (FSC-C105099) certified paper. The FSC® (FSC-C105099) label guarantees that the trees that are harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally.
❉ One of the most common disposal technologies in the world is landfill, which is why the covering material used is engineered to be degradable faux leather. Other notebook manufacturers use PVC, the most toxic plastic. Dingbats* notebooks are bio safe, with the material used being manufactured in green factories where water and air emissions are strictly controlled.
❉ All materials used are non-animal based and hence 100% vegan as certified by the EU V-Label (www.v-label.eu). Dingbats* is actually the first and only notebook brand to hold this certification. That’s not just regarding the cover materials, but also the adhesives- almost all notebook manufacturers use animal based adhesives during production, whereas Dingbats* only uses water based adhesives.
❉ Shrink wrap is the only available type of material that can preserve the life and quality of the notebooks throughout the entire journey (i.e. from production, shipping all over the world, storage, dispatching, handling, to displaying in store). For that, Dingbats* still aims to be environmentally cautious by using a material that is 100% recyclable, and hoping to find a material that is made from 100% post consumer recycled waste in the future.
Dingbats* also tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible when manufacturing their pens. The packaging is made from 100% recycled materials, and the plastic barrel is currently being made from #5 plastic while they develop a way to produce pens with biodegradable plastic. #5 plastic can normally be recycled in your local curbside program, but double check with your individual city. Otherwise, mail-in recycling programs are also gaining popularity and you can find some more information from the following online resources:
- 1800recycling.com – US
- Earth911.com – Canada & US
- RecyclingNearYou.com.au – Australia
- Waste Online – UK
Dingbats* Notebook Review
The Dingbats* notebook I chose to try out is the A5+ Wildlife Green Deer Notebook.
The A5+ designates the size of the notebook, this one being 6.3 x 8.5 inches. I like this size for my journals because it’s easy to toss into my purse if I want to take it with me when I leave the house (anything larger is too bulky and heavy)- I’m trying to make this a habit, actually, because inspiration and ideas strike me at the oddest times, and I’m trying to be less dependent on my phone for random note taking.
Each color has a different animal embossed on the front cover, which is what makes it a “wildlife” product; there is also “earth” products, with images like ocean coral embossed on the front covers. I chose this notebook because I really liked the deep green color, and thought the deer was cute, too. Depending on what animal your notebook represents, there is also a cute foot print designed printed on the inside cover pages.
The first thing I noticed about my notebook when I took it out of the package was the quality. There is just enough weight to it for it to feel sturdy enough to travel with you, but it’s also nice and light and compact. The faux-leather cover has a nice feel to it, and it doesn’t look cheap like so many do. I love the beautiful green color because it’s subtle but still lovely to look at.
One thing I need to have in all my notebooks is lined paper- I prefer that kind of structure, as I definitely get distracted by crooked writing more than I get inspired by the raw and creative look it can evoke. I’m not someone who tends to draw or do tables or anything in my journals, so lined paper meets al my needs.
The paper in Dingbats* notebooks is very nice quality, coming from the oldest established paper company in Lebanon. It’s the ideal thickness, and has a nice smooth texture to it; each page is made of 100gsm silk cream acid-free, fountain pen-friendly, FSC-certified paper, and is micro-perforated with a total of 96 sheets or 192 pages. The binding method used also allows the notebook to open and lay completely flat. My fountain pen ink doesn’t bleed through, and the off-white cream color makes the writing experience feel more relaxed.
I appreciate when companies take the time to consider the details that go into their products. And when they make these details with the same quality as the rest of the product, that’s the kind of thing that motivates me to continue shopping with certain brands.
The details I appreciate being included with this notebook:
- -the cute footprint pattern on the inside covers
- -the elastic loop to hold your pen
- -the bookmark (though not necessary, it can come in very handy)
- -the pocket on the back inside cover to hold any miscellaneous papers or notes
- -the perforated pages, for the occasion I need to write something down but don’t want it kept within my notebook
- -the elastic band to keep the notebook shut when I’m not using it
Without all these things, this notebook would be just as pleasant to use, but like I said, it’s the details that put it over the top.
Dingbats* notebooks are definitely something that I will be repurchasing, including in future wish lists of my own, as well as gifting the fellow creatives in my life- because notebooks are always a good gift idea (even when you don’t actually need any more of them).
I’m glad I found a brand that has the kind of high ethical and sustainable standards I look for these days, for the occasion I can’t find a new-used notebook that meets my needs.
If you know of other brands with standards and practices similar to the ones I discussed earlier, please share them with me! I always love finding new businesses that prioritize their awareness and their impact in creation and production.
If you’d like to buy one of these notebooks for yourself or someone you know, you can check out Dingbats* notebooks and pens here, plus get 10% off your purchase with the code KATIE10.
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