Note: This interview was originally published on BFellicious.com. Date of interview is 2014. Some facts can be changed by now.
Quality & sustainability
One of the most valuable things when I’m writing or when I’m brainstorming is paper and a pen. I always prefer writing things down on paper. It feels more personal when I see it written in my handwriting. And who doesn’t love handwritten notes… But since I’m quite eco-minded, I wanted to use paper that is ‘eco’ in a way. Some research lead me to ‘Ecojot’. Ecojot is a BCorporation that creates eco-friendly stationery, paper goods and custom products that feature amazing designs!
I was able to interview Carolyn Gavin, the creative director and co-founder of Ecojot with her brother Mark Gavin. Carolyn has been studying art her whole life, but often she still feels like a novice! She had a wonderful fine arts training with the South African artist Nina Campbell-Quine and after that Carolyn went onto doing a 3 year graphic design course. She worked in Advertising and Design, left to go traveling and eventually landed in Toronto, Canada. Carolyn’s personal inspiration comes from travel, nature, animals, film, fashion and textiles. She loves reading, yoga, gardening, music and the great outdoors.
Ecojot, where does the name come from?
“Eco” meaning ecologic, environment, global issues etc. “Jot” meaning write, doodle, sketch, draw etc. Together we have “ecojot”. Write and sketch on environmentally sound paper made in a socially responsible way with a now added cause to give back to.
How did the Ecojot story start?
It was Marks idea to produce a “green line” of stationery using 100% post-consumer recycled paper, vegetable based inks, glues and bio-degradable packaging. It has been a long and evolving story to reach this point but Ecojot is still going strong. We launched May 2007 at the New York Stationery Show and it was an immediate and wonderful success. Recycling and environmental awareness at that time was NEW and EXCITING and we were right there in the thick of things! Since then, its been up and down and we’ve had to tailor products and designs as the years have rolled on. Now we’re doing lots of foil stamping, tons of inspirational quotes, useful and practical day planners, desk pads and we have an amazing app in development, which will make our products even more useful and FUN.
What inspired you to start Ecojot?
We needed a new face for our company and Ecojot came at the perfect time. Recycling and using recycled waste was becoming a global issue and we embraced it. This inspired me as a designer to create a whole NEW range that looked totally different from previous work. It was fresh, fun, innovative, creative with an environmental message.
Ecojot is part of the BCorp family. How would you describe Ecojot as a BCorp? Do personally think BCorps are important?
We source and make all our products locally. All materials are sourced either in Canada or the US and are either bio-degradable or recycled or both. BCorps are important because they highlight companies that are doing so much good and are not afraid to expose themselves and be totally honest about their practices. It makes for better, more informed choices. Hopefully the awareness grows and people get to understand what it really means.
How does the process go of making an Ecojot product (from scratch to a final products)? What is important when you make an Ecojot product? What is the focus?
We basically do 3 or 4 collections a year and we add new designs to the lineup as we go along. Once the designs of the covers are reviewed and chosen, we print them locally using veg based inks and 100% post consumer recycled paper, fsc certified. The 100% post consumer recycled paper is from a stock from a Canadian Mill, which is run on biogas from a garbage dump nearby. The journals are then assembled with the covers, which have been cut to size, punched and are ready to be transformed in a book, with printed, cut and punched lined sheets. The wire we use is sourced locally and is environmentally sound. The finished journals are usually shrink wrapped with bio degradable shrink film made from corn. Our workers in the factories are paid a living wage and taken care of in a responsible way. All our materials are sourced either in Canada or the US and are either bio-degradable or recycled or both. Our focus is on quality and sustainability.
What is your artwork inspiration?
I love animals, plants, textiles from exotic locations, bright colours and inspirational quotes.
Can you tell a bit more about ‘Petite Fleur’?
This is my 5th Fabric collection for the quilting marker and first with Windham Fabrics. I’m especially excited about his one because its 100% GOTS certified Organic Cotton!!! The process, production and facilities of where and how it’s made is very important to me. Plus it’s so cute.
What is the Ecojot mantra?
I guess it would be ‘Write for humanity’, we’ve used it before and we like it.
Thank you Carolyn for this interview!