At Rescript, we like to believe our products are post-paper. Since our products are manufactured from discarded waste paper, the only raw materials that are consumed in the process is waste paper itself. We take great pride in knowing that we are not contributing to an increase in pollution or a decrease in tree cover in an effort to bring disruption to the status quo of the stationery industry.
How many trees are saved by recycled paper? For every ton of recycled paper that is used instead of conventional virgin paper, 17 trees are saved from being cut down. However, it’s important to note that humanity didn’t always rely on white virgin paper for its writing needs. Paper has a long and complicated history dating back to prehistoric times.
What did people write on before paper?
Through the bronze and iron ages, clay tablets were the most common writing medium. Using a script known as cuneiform, logo-syllabic characters were imprinted on a wet clay tablet using a stylus made of reed. Clay tablets formed some of the earliest examples of libraries since once they were heated in an oven or kiln, the tablets would become hard and durable. Tens of thousands of clay tablets were discovered in the middle east, giving us some of the oldest insights into the history of mankind and its love for preserving knowledge.
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Vellum, parchment or membrane:
In parts of the world where clay wasn’t readily available, people used to write on animal skins before the discovery of paper. While they can be used interchangeably, vellum or parchments refer to the same untanned animal skins that were used throughout history for writing purposes. Vellum or parchment is generally smooth and durable since it is manufactured by cleaning, bleaching, stretching and scraping animal skins with a knife. To create additional tension, the scraping step is alternated with wetting and drying. In modern times, paper vellum is created from synthetic plant materials and is generally used for tracing, technical drawings, blueprints and drawing plants.
Famous for its use in ancient egypt, papyrus is a thick paper that was used as a writing surface. Made from the pith of the papyrus plant, papyrus is a loose term that can either refer to the writing material, or to a form of document written on sheets of papyrus material that is rolled together to form a scroll or proto-book. Apart from finding use as a writing material, ancient Egyptians also used papyrus to construct other artefacts such as boats, mats, rope, baskets and sandals. It would be logical to compare papyrus as an ancient equivalent to modern-day cardboard, but with several added benefits such as durability and being waterproof. Looking for a versatile, do anything sheet of paper? Check out our range of recycled copier paper.
The phrase ‘Tabula Rasa’ finds its origins in an ancient Roman method of writing on Wax Tablets. Similar to modern-day notebooks, Wax Tablets were a reusable writing medium since the application of heat could erase the writings on a tablet by melting the wax. Tabula Rasa also translates to a ‘blank slate’. Roman students would write on wax tablets using a sharp stylus. Looking for a modern-day equivalent? Check out our range of notebooks manufactured entirely from recycled materials.
