When you think of sticky notes, you think of yellow. The small square notes that have adorned screens, refrigerators, and file folders since the 1980s. They're quick to write, stick well (or not), and eventually disappear into the wastebasket. But a new development is turning everything on its head: electrostatic sticky notes .
No adhesive. No residue. No restrictions. And with an astonishing amount of science behind it.
What are electrostatic sticky notes?
Electrostatic sticky notes are sticky notes made of polypropylene film that adhere to surfaces through an electrostatic charge – without glue, magnets, or suction cups. The highlight: They stick not only to glass or metal , but also to wood, wallpaper, plastic, and even textiles.
Instead of relying on sticky backs, they utilize a physical property: electrostatics . A force as inconspicuous as a light switch, but as powerful as a thunderstorm.
How does it work? The physics behind adhesion
The notes are made of dielectric plastic . When they are pulled out of the packaging or rubbed together, they become charged – through what's known as tribocharging . This is the same principle that a balloon uses when you rub it against wool and then hold it against a wall: The electrostatic charge creates an attraction between the note's molecules and the wall.
The smoother the surface, the stronger the attraction. But the system also works surprisingly well on slightly textured surfaces. The adhesion is not achieved through adhesive bonding, but through physical attraction.
Electrostatic adhesion explained in a video
If you would rather see what it all looks like in practice, you can watch a clear video here.
How do electrostatic sticky notes differ from traditional sticky notes?
| criterion | Classic sticky notes | Electrostatic sticky notes |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Adhesive on the back edge | Electrostatic, flat adhesive |
| Low residue | Partially | Always residue-free |
| Reusable | Only limited | Very often usable |
| Writing surface | One-sided | Double-sided (depending on model) |
| recycling | Paper, but with glue | Recyclable plastic (PP) |
| Surfaces | Paper, cardboard | Glass, wood, wallpaper, plastic, fabric, metal and much more. |
The history of electrostatic notes
The idea of bonding materials through pure physics is not new. Electrostatically adhesive surfaces were already used in space travel to secure tools. In the office world, however, it took longer for this technology to find its way into the office world.
The first prototypes of electrostatic notepads were created in Japan and South Korea around 2010. In Europe and North America, they were initially ridiculed as a "high-tech gimmick" – until innovation departments, design agencies, and educational institutions began to take an interest in them.
Today, they are used not only in agile offices, but also in schools, workshops, and for presentations. Their advantage: They are lightweight, quiet, flexible, and visually appealing .
What are electrostatic sticky notes particularly suitable for?
- Workshops & brainstorming sessions: No slipping, no re-gluing.
- School lessons & training: Stick to windows and blackboards without leaving marks.
- Architecture & Design: Ideal for variable mood boards.
- Prototyping & IT: Boards without adhesive residue or magnetic walls.
- At home: shopping lists on the fridge, reminders on the mirror.
Less glue, more ideas
Electrostatic sticky notes aren't a gimmick, but a real tool for people who think visually, plan flexibly, and act environmentally consciously. Their physical intelligence makes them one of the most exciting office supplies of recent years.
Whether at school or in a startup, in the studio or on the windowsill: these little notes don't stick – they stick. And that makes all the difference.
