Emerging Green Notebook Review

This Emerging Green Notebook review looks at a simple, eco-friendly spiral notebook pack aimed at everyday writing, school notes, and back-to-school use. The notebooks are made with recycled paper by Emerging Green, a small family-run company focused on sustainably sourced products and a lower carbon footprint. If you want a basic lined notebook that feels more environmentally conscious than a standard disposable school notebook, this is the main reason to consider it.

The version shown in the video is an A5 three-pack. Each notebook has a brown cardboard cover, double spiral binding, lined off-white paper, and a straightforward utilitarian look. It is not a luxury journal, and it is not trying to be. The appeal is that you get a practical amount of recycled paper in a portable size, with a binding that lies flat and folds back easily.

Quick verdict

The Emerging Green spiral notebook is a solid pick if you want an affordable recycled-paper notebook for school, work, lists, or general notes. The A5 size is easy to carry, the spiral binding is practical, and the paper handles most everyday pens well. The biggest caution is fountain pen use: because recycled paper is more absorbent, wet fountain pens can feather and come close to bleeding through.

Design and format

The design is intentionally plain. The brown cardboard covers make the notebooks look recycled and minimal, which fits the product. There is no decorative cover art, no elastic, no ribbon bookmark, and no premium hardcover feel. Instead, you get a lightweight spiral notebook that is easy to open, fold back, and use in a classroom, office, or bag.

The A5 size is one of the best parts of the format. It gives more room than a pocket notebook but stays smaller than a full-size school notebook. That makes it useful for students who want something compact, or for anyone who likes keeping separate notebooks for projects, subjects, or rough notes.

Spiral binding and page layout

The double spiral binding is practical because the notebook lies flat and can fold back on itself. That is one of the main advantages over a bound notebook if you are using it at school, on a small desk, or while moving around. Spiral binding is not always as elegant as a sewn journal, but for quick notes it is hard to beat.

The pages are lined with an 8 mm ruling. The ruling is fairly dark, which is useful if you like strong lines but may be too bold if you prefer a softer writing page. There are also small guide marks near the edges, which could help if you want to divide pages or use the notebook for more structured layouts.

Paper quality and pen test

The paper is 80 gsm recycled paper. For ordinary writing tools, it performs well enough. Pencil, ballpoint, hybrid pens, and most gel pens should be fine for typical note-taking. The paper is not ultra-smooth premium stationery paper, but it has a usable everyday feel, especially for a notebook that is meant to be eco-friendly and practical.

Fountain pens are where expectations matter. The video shows some feathering with a Pilot Metropolitan medium nib and Diamine Marine ink, and the ink is close to bleeding through. That is common with recycled paper because it tends to be more absorbent unless it is heavily coated or unusually thick. If you mostly use fountain pens, this probably should not be your main notebook. If you use ballpoints, pencils, gel pens, or only write on one side of the page, it is much more reasonable.

Eco-friendly strengths and packaging note

The eco-friendly angle is the main reason this notebook stands out. Recycled paper and a simple cardboard cover make sense for a back-to-school or everyday notebook. It is the sort of product that lets you make a more environmentally conscious choice without switching to something fragile or impractical.

The one packaging criticism in the video is worth noting: each notebook was individually wrapped. For a product built around sustainability, less plastic or biodegradable packaging would make the overall presentation stronger. That does not ruin the notebook itself, but it is the kind of detail eco-conscious buyers will notice.

Pros and cons

How it compares to regular school notebooks

Compared with a standard school notebook, the Emerging Green notebook feels more intentional. The A5 size is smaller and more portable than a full letter-size spiral notebook, and the recycled paper/cardboard-cover look gives it a calmer, more natural feel. It is especially useful if you want separate compact notebooks for different subjects, projects, or writing categories.

The tradeoff is that it may not be as cheap per page as the most basic back-to-school notebooks, and the paper is not the best choice for wet fountain pens. For normal school pens and everyday writing, though, it sits in a nice middle ground: more eco-conscious than a throwaway notebook, but still practical enough to use without babying it.

Who it is best for

This notebook is best for students, note-takers, and everyday writers who want a simple recycled-paper notebook in a portable size. It is also good if you like spiral notebooks because they lie flat and fold over easily. The three-pack format makes sense if you want separate notebooks for different subjects or projects.

It is less ideal for people who want a premium journal experience. If you care most about smooth fountain pen paper, luxury covers, or archival-looking notebooks, this will feel too basic. But if your priority is practical recycled paper for normal writing, it does the job well.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

The Emerging Green notebook is not a flashy product, but it is a useful one. It gives you recycled paper, a compact A5 size, practical spiral binding, and enough pages for school or everyday notes. The paper is good enough for common writing tools, and the notebook’s plain design fits the eco-friendly purpose.

The main thing to know is that recycled paper has tradeoffs. Fountain pen users may see feathering or bleed-through, and the dark ruling will not be for everyone. But if you want a simple recycled notebook for everyday writing, this is a solid, practical option.