Fresh Thinking Paper Ideas – November 2025

From a book made from coffee cups to an outdoor Parisian library, we bring you the latest paper designs and innovations.

SHHHH!

In July, IKEA transformed a section of the Seine riverbank in Paris into an open-air library. Located close to the National Library of France, the ‘Billyothèque’ offered people a chance to read, borrow and donate books, all housed in the brand’s iconic shelving system.

Created in partnership with publishing house Le Livre de Poche, the pop-up library was located at the Port de la Gare in the 13th arrondissement of the city and, as well as encouraging people to buy more bookcases, reflects the rising demand for analogue, community-led experiences and cultural engagement. After the library closed, all remaining books were collected and redistributed by Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, extending the initiative’s impact beyond its temporary outdoor home.

A New Reading Experience

The world’s first augmented reading experience has been installed by Singapore’s National Library. Adding content such as sounds and imagery that’s designed to engage with the reader at the exact time they read a connected part of a book, the experience is created using a pair of Snap Spectacles. Looking like a large pair of sunglasses, the Spectacles scan a book while the wearer is reading it, using text recognition and machine learning to provide atmospheric audio and visual effects.

“Our goal is not to replace the traditional reading experience, but to enhance it by creating a compelling gateway to books,” said Stephan Schwarz, Executive Creative Director at LePub Singapore, the creative agency that developed the experience. “These glasses are an invitation to rediscover the joy of deep, meaningful engagement with text. Once people are hooked on the story, we hope they will keep reading to the end.”

Coffee Cup Book

The world’s first children’s book made entirely from recycled coffee cups has been published. The book, titled ‘Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise’, is the debut title from author and sustainability advocate, Hayley Slack, and tells the tale of Little Coffee Cup, who leaves the comfort of a café to discover the world.

Each book is made from materials using James Cropper’s CupCycling process, which upcycles used coffee cups into premium paper. Created to start conversations about waste, reuse and the circular economy, each physical book is made from 13 recycled coffee cups, collected from across the UK.

“As a mum of two and someone who works in the waste industry,” says Slack, “I wanted to create something meaningful that would make kids and parents think differently about what we throw away. I wanted to show that we can create children’s books using UK waste, supporting both the environment and local industry.”

Early Warning System

A Brazilian beauty giant has transformed its print catalogue into a health screening device. Known for its commitments to health and wellbeing, Natura embedded an olfactory test into its catalogue featuring distinctive scents such as cheese, mothballs and bacon alongside a 20-question assessment to help detect early signs of neurodegenerative diseases. Sent to around four million people, with each copy passing through 10-30 women’s hands, the catalogue has the potential to significantly impact early detection rates.

The loss or alteration of the sense of smell is one of the earliest signs of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and can appear years before more obvious problems such as memory loss and motor function impairments. Despite the importance of this early warning, the World Health Organization states that just 10% of cases are diagnosed and about 70% of patients are women. People who notice smell perception changes through the catalogue test are invited to access more comprehensive screening.

The Art Of Paper

Carton company Falconer has helped The Woodland Gift Company turn a heartfelt vision into a commercial triumph by creating a jewellery box that’s redefined the brand’s identity. The ‘Storybook Gift Box’ opens up to reveal an enchanting woodland scene with a jewellery jar nestled inside.

“It’s exactly the kind of project we love,” said Colin Pow, Sales Director at Falconer Print. “Creatively ambitious, emotionally rich and rooted in a real brand story. Working with such a passionate business was a pleasure and we’re thrilled that the final result has had such a powerful impact.”

The Storybook Gift Box has created a surge in demand for The Woodland Gift Company, resulting in glowing customer reviews and a significant uplift in sales. The new packaging has become central to the brand’s identity, with three more seasonal Storybook Box designs now in development.

Read more interesting articles like the above in the latest edition of The Page here!