Rhodia was founded in 1932 by the brothers Henri and Robert Verilhac, who founded the Verilhac Paper Mills in the French Alps. The name was inspired by the Rhone River - legend has it that the two Rhodia fir trees of the logo symbolize the two founding brothers. The famous orange Rhodia 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 was purchased in 1997 by the historic Clairefontaine company, located in the Vosges region of France. This was a match made in heaven. A paper-making legend itself, Clairefontaine was established in 1863 on the site of a 16th century paper mill and continues to this day. In fact, it's 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.). 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 swim within sight of it.