2025 Finalists - Coffeenotes
Sustainable, stylish and proudly made in the UK, Coffeenotes is everything we love to see in a Gift of the Year finalist. Founded by Mandy Cooper, this brand is turning everyday waste into beautifully crafted notebooks that feel as good as they look. The pack of stitched notebooks has earned its place as a finalist in the Made in the UK category, and it’s easy to see why. With bold colours, a luxury finish and planet-friendly credentials, this is stationery with a story worth sharing.
Company Name: Coffeenotes Sustainable Stationery
Product in the Finalist: Coffeenotes Pack of 3 Stitched Notebooks - Tutti Frutti
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards?
We are thrilled to be recognised as a genuinely sustainable stationery brand making products in the UK. Our luxury Notebooks are consciously crafted to minimise their impact on the planet. They are all made from luxury recycled coffee cup paper here in the UK. They make a beautiful and thoughtful gift supporting both a small, family run UK brand and the planet, at the same time.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product?
Our inspiration? We set out to create truly sustainable stationery from waste and make it completely recyclable so nothing with a Coffeenotes logo ends up in landfill.
Coffeenotes award winning sustainable stationery is made in Dorset, UK from recycled coffee cups, repurposed food, drink, and textile waste. These luxury, carbon neutral notebooks, sketchbooks, planners and notepads are consciously crafted to minimise their impact on the planet. The multi award winning, stationery is designed to make writing, drawing, and doodling a pleasure, bringing purpose to your thoughts and your day. It is completely recyclable, or compostable, absolutely nothing goes to landfill.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges?
In the UK 2.5 billion coffee cups end up in landfill each year. Coffeenotes are helping to repurpose this waste. Our bespoke recycled coffee cup paper is created in Cumbria with a unique Cupcycling™ process; 95% of the cup waste is converted into premium paper and 5% (plastic inner) is used for energy recovery. Our Tutti Frutti Notebook covers are made in the UK from a stunning range of coloured papers; created from repurposed waste in the UK.
This artisan family business makes in small batches minimising waste; plastic free and all packaging is made from recycled and reusable materials.
Genuine sustainability runs through their production with recycled and repurposed waste materials used to create a circular process. Coffeenotes carbon neutral credentials are underwritten by their charity support for World Land Trust.
Coffeenotes, is rewriting the planet’s future in encouraging people to join our sustainable stationery revolution!
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far?
Our product is for anyone who loves stationery - it's useful and beautiful. We've had an amazing reaction from customers both stockists and direct online as the product has a luxury feel but is also planet friendly. Our repeat orders speak for themselves. Many stockists are being asked for sustainable and locally made gifts and Coffeenotes fits the bill.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now?
Sustainability is very much on everyone's mind. Reduction of single use plastics and composite products that can't be repurposed or recycled easily is vital to stop us drowning in landfill. (eg. most mass-produced notebooks are made with plastic coated wires/ excessive glues and inks, elastic, plastic and laminates making them impossible to recycle.)
Increasingly people don't feel they need yet another scented candle or ceramic ornament. As a giver you want to present a gift that is both beautiful and useful - our luxury stationery is a pleasure to write on and can be easily recycled in your compost or household waste after use.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards?
We hope to raise awareness of conscious present giving so that people are spending with local UK companies doing good. We hope by being part of GOTY we can reach a wider audience who might not have heard of us yet but want to be part of the sustainable stationery revolution.
What exciting plans do you have for the future?
We are creating new stationery products all the time and have some lovely new innovation in the pipeline this year.
We have been working with great partners like National Theatre and River Cottage to partner with them on joint branded stationery products. This all help raise our awareness so that one day all stationery will be sustainable.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why?
The best gift I have ever received is a poem from my husband about the place where we always walk to with our dogs. It was so beautiful and thoughtful, and I didn't even know he could write poetry!
From recycled coffee cups to compostable packaging, Coffeenotes is showing us how creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand. As a Made in the UK finalist, they’re championing conscious gifting and setting a new standard for what great stationery can be. We can’t wait to see where their sustainable story goes next.
Find out more about the product in the Gift of the Year final and visit the Coffeenotes website to explore their full range.
