Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Your Notes Can Do It, Too

Everyone knows that reduce, reuse, recycle has been a calling card for environmentally-friendly practices for years. Companies spend huge sums advertising reusable or recycled packaging and social media is full of call-outs for ways to improve the sustainability of your home. But, did you know that it is easy to reduce your paper use at work, too?

Reusable smart notebooks let you digitize your handwritten notes, easing the use of scanners, writing utensils, and paper. Also, if you have ever had a hard time staying organized and keeping track of notes, a smart notebook can provide a system for uploading and managing handwritten and typed notes.

There are a few main things to consider when looking for a digital notebook, among them reusability and compatibility.

Reusability: Some smart notebooks come with special pens and paper that you can wipe clean after uploading your notes. Others are completely digital, providing a “Google Docs” format for your handwritten files. If you want to make your notes a little more eco-friendly, either of these is a great option without going completely digital.

Compatibility: With compatibility, there are a few things to think about. What format do you want your notes in? Can you access them from your phone and computer? Are your notes easy to access, easy to organize, and easy to keep track of? How secure are the digital copies? With a multitude of purchase options, balancing these questions is easy!

To begin, we have the Rocketbook Fusion, a deluxe version of the original Rocketbook. This environmentally friendly notebook has 7 different page styles, including a planner, a list format, and a dot-grid. With a Pilot FriXion pen and microfiber towel included, it is easy to write, organize, scan, clean, and reuse.

Moleskine has a similar version, its kit containing a digital smart pen and encoded grid paper that uploads your notes automatically. With a companion app that is accessible from Android or Apple devices, this easy-to-use notebook provides a number of benefits.

With a classic Moleskine appearance, you can use this notebook for work, class, or your home life. The Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse Smart Writing Set Pen & Rules Smart Notebook also allows you to record and pair your writing with real-time audio, a huge benefit for meetings and office work. Once complete, you can share your ideas via email, PDF, image, or text file format.

One of the newest, and most advanced versions of a smart notebook is the reMarkable 2, referred to as the next-generation paper tablet. Praised by publications like tom’s guide, Time Best Inventions, and Mashable Choice, the reMarkable 2 allows you to take handwritten notes, read, and review documents. After writing, notes can be stored in an organized file format, or taken out directly as PDFs.

Not only that, the reMarkable 2 currently has a beta version of a web browser, allowing you to effectively “drag and drop” your files from the desktop app to a more transferable format. With all your notes organized and accessible on all devices, this tablet is an easy and environmentally friendly way to keep track of your day to day activities and meetings.

If you want something that lets you write on a computer screen, the Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet will connect to any Mac or PC, allowing you to easily write, edit, or convey ideas to students or colleagues when web-conferencing. While this isn’t exactly a notebook, it is a functional way to sketch or write ideas. Not only that, it comes with a number of creative software apps included in your purchase, like CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO, Corel Painter Essentials 8, and Corel AfterShot Pro 3.

For the more artistically minded, this tablet is a great combination of note-taking and creativity.

Last, but certainly not least, from the same company comes the Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad, a tablet that is both protected and professional. Available in two sizes, with the capability to turn your notes into digital, shareable files, the Bamboo Folio saves your ideas and allows you to easily share them.

At $350 from Amazon, this product is more pricey, but easy to use with iOS, Android, or Windows.

With a variety of fine attributes, each of these choices provide a practical, environmentally friendly, and easy way to digitize handwritten notes. From taking notes and wiping them away to writing on a screen while presenting, each offers unique features and capabilities, taking into account both reusability and compatibility with clean features and easy digital sharing and organization.

Check each out at the links below!

1. Rocketbook Fusion
2. Moleskine Pen+ Ellipse Smart Writing Set Pen & Rules Smart Notebook
3. ReMarkable 2
4. Wacom Intuos Graphics Drawing Tablet
5. Wacom Bamboo Folio Smartpad