TNPL has embarked on this mission also in part to enhance its corporate image--by way of contributing its mite for the environment.

The company has designed school notebooks, which are soft bound, free of starch and gum (that could turn poisonous) and difficult to tear. The conventional hard-bound 180 page notebook that is preferred by most notebook dealers and parents has got some disadvantages for students, according to medical journals.

The increasing weight of school bags is leading to early onset of spondylosis, deformed chest muscles, and hypertrophy of skin on the shoulders among students. Yet the public at large prefers hard bound books, with thick paper.

To dispel this prejudice against thinner, lighternotebooks having the same number of pages which are made from waste fibres, TNPL has come out with attractive designs on the front and back covers of the notebooks--endangered animals, cool green lush scenery, forests and waterfalls, the seven wonders of the world, all laminated for a glossy finish.

The back cover of the notebook, this time a maze of light, pleasing colours in contrast to the lush front cover has also got a small write up on the importance of conserving forest wealth and using paper made of material which does not involve forest denudation, such as bagasse.

The write-up addresses students thus: ``Feel the paper in this notebook. Can you note the difference? You will note that the pages in this book are slim, strong, smooth and splendid. Take the eco-friendly route for smooth and easy writing.'' And again ``TNPL saves 15,000 hectares of forest being chopped down every year.''

The inner pages are of 58 gsm against the usual 54 gsm. Due to bagasse's high binding capacity, the paper isindeed fine and smooth, less cloudy and transparent, and better than 54 gsm quality available in conventional notebooks.

The response for these books was overwhelming, according to deputy general manager, Marketing, S Krishnamoorthy. Even though the company had placed few samples amongst its indentors, there is substantial demand from places as far as Jaipur and Ghaziabad.

But the company will be moving in for large scale production of these books only after the necessary tie-up with notebook manufacturers is in place. ``We have to go through the tender route to select notebook makers and then subsequently ensure that they conform to our design and paper specifications. Without having quality controls and the necessary infrastructure in place, we will not go for huge volumes immediately,'' Krishnamoorthy said. The MRP is marked at Rs 16.00.