Paper, ink, and what happens to old books
A device that prints books has to answer for the paper. Here is how we think about it.
The paper
MirthTale paper is FSC-certified stock made from responsibly managed forests. A book at age five uses about the same paper as a folded newspaper. One refill roll makes around forty books.
The ink
We use water-based pigment inks with no solvents, chosen for permanence on a shelf and safety in a mouth. Cartridges are returnable; we refill and reuse them.
The spine
The binding seal is a plant-based adhesive applied without heat. It is strong enough for repeated reading and does not prevent recycling. Finished books go in paper recycling like any other book.
The device
MirthTale is built to be repaired. The paper mechanism, the button, and the display are each replaceable modules, and we will publish repair guides. There is no battery. Packaging is card and paper only.
The honest part
Printing a book is not free of impact, and we won't pretend otherwise. Our argument is that a book a child re-reads forty times and keeps for years is a good use of a sheet of paper, and a better one than a screen that is replaced every three years. We will publish material declarations and a lifecycle summary before shipping.
Old books
Most families keep them. For the ones that don't survive, ordinary paper recycling. If you'd like a way to send a favourite book back to us to be scanned into a keepsake, tell us on the contact page. It is on our list.