Paper production has a long tradition in the Meurthe valley, dating back to the first paper mills in the 16th century. It was in this favourable environment that Papeteries de Clairefontaine began production in 1858, in the small town of Etival Clairefontaine, 90 km from Strasbourg on the banks of the Meurthe. Taking advantage of the rags supplied by the local textile industry, Clairefontaine became one of the largest factories in the region in just a few years.

To complete its range of products, the company began manufacturing envelopes in 1880, followed by exercise books and notebooks.

Clairefontaine today

The three activities – paper, envelopes and exercice books/notebooks – are still present on the site. The plant has two paper machines, one of which produces 60km and 15 tonnes of paper per hour.

Papeteries Clairefontaine does not produce its own pulp, but sources it from the world market. This enables them to diversify their sources of supply to ensure the optimum composition of their paper. Examples include long fibres from Scandinavian softwoods for strength, and short fibres from Brazilian eucalyptus forests for opacity and printability properties.

Clairefontaine only uses paper pulp from 100% environmentally certified forests. As for their subsidiary Everbal, it manufactures only recycled paper, without de-inking or bleaching.

For its notebooks, in addition to the quality of its soft, velvety paper, Clairefontaine offers a range of covers in bright, vivid colours and designs that combine aesthetics and originality.