The Rhodia trademark dates back to 1932 and points to the Rhodian origins of the two brothers, Henri and Robert Verilhac, who founded the Verilhac Paper Mills. The sunny Greek island of Rhodes, named for the pink hibiscus and roses that decorate its landscape, is filled with pine forests. Legend has it that the two Rhodia fir trees of the logo symbolize the two founding brothers.
The Rhodia notebook, originally a sideline for Rhodia, was to become its most famous product. The Rhodia pad was considered a professional tool, and so was designed to be easy to use and durable, incorporating details like a fold-around cover, hard coated-board backing, and nice paper. It immediately overshadowed other notebooks of the time because of its quality materials and the innovative design of the scored folding front cover. The famous orange cover dates back to the 1930s - it was a standard hue for cardstock at the time and remains unchanged to this day. Over time, Rhodia has become the most popular pad in France.
Rhodia has been made by Clairefontaine, located in the Vosges region of France, for many years. Clairefontaine was established in 1863 on the site of a 16th century paper mill and is currently the only manufacturer making its own paper for its own products. This guarantees not only consistent product quality, but also controls the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. Clairefontaine only buys pulp from sustainable forests that are certified according to recognized international standards (PEFC, FSC, etc.) These certifications also ensure that endangered wildlife habitat is protected, worker health and safety laws are kept, and the rights of indigenous communities are respected. The River Meurthe is the source of water supply for the Vosges mill. The water is so clean when it leaves their facility that local people can fish, swim and boat downstream within sight of the mill. All Clairefontaine paper is recyclable and biodegradable.
