In Bengaluru, a city dominated by tech companies and startups, two childhood friends, Narendra Raj and Ashutosh Ananth, are writing a unique story. Their company, Rescript, recycles waste paper to make eco-friendly sustainable stationery. Their motto is that every paper used helps save trees, not cut them down.
“People don’t know that every paper they use can either save or cut down trees. We chose to save,” says Narendra.
Check fast for the first news of Business & Finance on this WhatsApp channel
A story that began with a small room
Narendra and Ashutosh’s friendship began in nursery school. Their friendship grew stronger while studying at St Joseph’s School and BBA at Christ University. Both always wanted to do something big, especially in the field of environment.
After graduation in 2016, Narendra started a job at Ernst & Young, but quit within two months. “I didn’t fit in the corporate world. I wanted to start something new,” he says. Ashutosh also worked in the family business for two and a half years, but then chose a different path.
In 2019, a mentor introduced him to a Delhi-based manufacturer who made plantable sustainable stationery containing seeds. After using this stationery, plants could be grown from it. “We liked this idea very much. It gave us an idea of what a sustainable business could be like,” Ashutosh says.
He took samples from Delhi and returned to Bengaluru and placed his first big order with Ernst & Young. This was his first big win. But soon he realized that people see plantable sustainable stationery as a one-time gift. To build a long-lasting business, he had to focus on everyday things.
New opportunity in Covid-19 of sustainable stationery
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, when offices were closed, the demand for paper in hospitals and clinics increased. This is where the idea of Rescript came from. “We thought, why not make recycled copier paper? Paper is used every day and can be recycled 6-7 times. Yet, most of the paper ends up in waste,” says Ashutosh.
Rescript started with recycled copier paper and later added products like notebooks, journals, pens and pencils. Today, his company has recycled over 500 tonnes of waste paper, saved over 9,200 trees, saved 1.84 crore litres of water, and prevented 4,31,480 kg of carbon emissions.
Unique paper making process
What makes Rescript special is their proprietary formulation technology, which mixes recycled paper and water in the right proportion. The paper made from it is smooth, durable and completely safe for modern printers. “Earlier, recycled paper was rough and damaged the printer. We solved this problem,” says Narendra.
Waste paper, such as packaging scraps, old books and student notebooks, is collected. It is taken to their partner mill where it is mixed with water to form pulp. The pulp is flattened, pressed and dried to form large rolls. These are then cut into A4, A3, A5 sizes or printed for notebooks and journals.
Why isn’t their paper bright white?
Rescript doesn’t use bleaching agents in their paper, so their paper isn’t bright white. “People questioned it initially, but now they consider this natural colour a sign of sustainability,” says Ashutosh.
Their paper is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, which ensures that it comes from responsibly managed forests. For quality checks, every batch is tested in their own lab. If a batch doesn’t meet the standard, it is reprocessed.
Big work in a small space
Rescript’s factory is small but very efficient. To make a notebook, the sheets are counted and separated, pinned with a cover, and then cut with a cutting machine to give a neat look. For journals, the pages are stitched and attached to a strong cover with hot glue. For spiral notebooks, holes are punched in the pages and a spiral wire is inserted.
They have five main products:
- Recycled copier paper
- Notebooks and notepads
- Premium journals and diaries
- Pens and pencils made from old newspapers
- Corporate gifting kits
- Reach out to schools and companies
Rescript’s B2B business serves companies like Wipro, JP Morgan, ICICI Prudential, and Vmart. They work with schools through distributors. In B2C, their products are available in stores like Sapna Book House and Crossword, and soon on Swiggy and Blinkit.
Ruchi Rai, a teacher at Sanskriti The Gurukul School, says, “In our ‘Paper Out of Paper’ project, children make handmade papers from old notebooks. By associating with Rescript, children understand the importance of sustainability. We have implemented their notebooks for all classes and teachers.”
Small team, big dream
Rescript’s team consists of just 9 people. Initially, Narendra and Ashutosh used to handle everything themselves. Their first recruit, Pratik Davda, was a law student who now handles the company’s digital and content strategy. “Social media is our voice. Through this, we make people aware and win trust,” Narendra says.
In 2024-25, Rescript clocked a revenue of Rs 5 crore, up from Rs 3.3 crore last year and Rs 1.5 crore the year before that. They completed 1,500 B2B invoices and over 10,000 D2C orders. Their products are priced similarly to normal sustainable stationery: copier paper Rs 359-400, notebooks Rs 50-85, pen-pencils Rs 100, and journals Rs 499.
Environmental Impact Report
Rescript gives its clients an environmental impact report every year, showing how many trees their products have saved, water saved, and carbon emissions reduced. “Just saying sustainable is not enough. We show the actual numbers,” say the two founders.
Check fast for the first news of Business & Finance on this WhatsApp channel
The road ahead
The story of Rescript continues. Every piece of paper is a symbol of environmental responsibility for them. Narendra and Ashutosh believe that the path to fighting climate change can begin with the paper on your desk.
Frequently Ask Question (FAQs)
- How is Rescript paper different from regular paper?
- Rescript paper is 100% recycled, bleach-free, and FSC certified, making it eco-friendly.
- Where can Rescript products be purchased?
- Available on Sapna Book House, Crossword, and soon on Swiggy and Blinkit.
- How much environmental impact has Rescript made?
- 500 tons of paper recycled, 9,200+ trees saved, 1.84 crore liters of water saved, and 4,31,480 kg of carbon emissions prevented.
- Are Rescript products safe for printers?
- Yes, the paper made with their unique technology is smooth and printer-safe.
- What does Rescript offer for corporate clients?
- Customized gifting kits and environmental impact reports that meet sustainability goals.
Also Read:
Swara Bhaskar’s net worth: Owner of crores, charges such a huge amount for a film
Tilak Varma Net Worth: Earnings in crores from cricket and journey to a luxurious lifestyle
