If you’re interesting in the environment, you might have noticed our range of eco-pens. This is a selection of personalised pens which also send the message, “my company cares about the environment.”

An obvious benefit of an eco-pen is that they are environmentally friendly. They are produced using recycled or sustainable materials including wood, plastic and paper. If you want a pen which looks as if it’s environmentally friendly, the versions made from recycled paper or cardboard are particularly good. Have a look at Ecoretract. The barrel is made from recycled cardboard, and the tip, clip and button are plastic.

For a more expensive, and elegant looking design, WoodOne’s personalised pens and mechanical pencils are a good choice. Not only is the barrel made from sustainable wood, they are also refillable. The barrel will be long lasting because of the high quality material it’s produced from, and will be far less likely to snap than plastic, or to be damaged by liquids like cardboard.

Does Eco Cost More?

While the cheapest eco-pen offered by Supreme Pens is slightly more than the cheapest pen generally, it is very minimal. For the want of 4p per unit, you can offer your customers an environmentally friendly pen rather than one which has been produced from unsustainable materials.

In the same way as other types of personalised pens, much of the cost depends on choice. Eco-pens start at 11p for a basic stick pen, and go up to 93p for a small order of WoodOne pens.

So while eco-friendly personalised pens might cost slightly more, the few pennies you save per unit will be costing the environment a lot more.

Why else should you consider buying eco-pens?

They provide a talking point.

If you pick a pen like the Ecoretract or WoodOne, they look interesting and different. They are more tactile than a basic stick pen, as well as the fact they’re not harming the earth.

Explain to your customers why you picked them (unless you did it for marketing reasons, and then you might want to tell a small white lie instead).

Most eco-pens are also designed to hold refills, because the more they are reused, the lower their impact. Once the pen is beyond use, remove any springs and the refill cartridge. These components will have to be landfill as they make up the 20% of the pen which isn’t eco. The remaining part can be buried in the ground, where it will eventually biodegrade.

You could also ask yourself what makes something eco? If it’s cheap looking pen which writes poorly, there is an increased chance it will be thrown away. As a result, regardless of the material it is made from, if the pen isn’t used then it can’t be considered environmentally friendly.

You’re promoting your company’s eco-credentials .

If you’re printing your company name on something, you want to be sure that that something represents what your company stands for. If you’re a high end hotel, you might chose metal executive pens with a rubber grip. If you’re a charity, you might chose a basic stick pen to show that you don’t waste your money. If you’re an environmental lawyer, you are unlikely to fill your office with plastic and faux fur.

These are extreme examples, but as with any marketing material, your choices are a direct reflection on your company, so make them count.

If a personalised pen is the only impression someone gets of you, make sure it says what you want it to.